-Deputy Minister Cornelia Kruah Togba Clarifies As UP Loyalist Protests
By Jerromie S. Walters
MONROVIA — In what appeared as a protest on Saturday, February 22, 2025, Obediah Kormon, a staunch supporter of the ruling Unity Party (UP), lay beneath a vehicle, belonging to Deputy Minister Cornelia Kruah Togba, demanding employment. The incident occurred on the Robertsfield Highway
Kormon, visibly desperate, declared his willingness to risk his life if his demand for a job was not met. “What have I done to you in the party? I need a job. Today, Cornelia will not take her car from here. She has made Emmanuel Farr, she has made Cooper, she has made a lot of people in the party. What have I done to you? I need a job. I need a job oo! I need a job,” he exclaimed.
The Unity Party-led government marked its first year in office on January 22, 2025, with hundreds of appointments made since its inauguration. Kormon expressed bewilderment that his name had not been included in these appointments.
During the protest, Kormon stated, “It’s better you kill me. If you kill me, my family will not regret it. I need a job. You don’t treat me like this. Every day, I’m just calling. They don’t answer my calls.”
Kormon’s Frustrations
Kormon later revealed to a journalist in Monrovia that he has been working at the Liberian Senate, specifically in the Human Resource Department, for the past four years. However, he expressed frustration that his current position barely provides enough to sustain him.
According to Kormon, he earns approximately 150 United States Dollars and 12,000 Liberian Dollars monthly, an amount he considers insufficient, especially given his unwavering support for the government in power.
He further disclosed that he had met with President Joseph Boakai, who instructed him to liaise with Deputy Minister Togba to secure a more suitable position. However, his efforts yielded no results.
“This is why I went under a vehicle yesterday—I am demanding a job. I don’t need a minister’s job, but a better one in one of these well-paid government entities,” Kormon asserted.
Deputy Minister Togba Responds
Just as Kormon said, Deputy Minister Cornelia Kruah Togba explained that Kormon is not unemployed but is demanding a presidential appointment. She referenced his mention of individuals like Emmanuel Farr and Cooper Passawe during his protest as evidence of his specific demands.
Togba revealed that Kormon had previously attempted to assault her on multiple occasions, accusing her of refusing to submit his name for a presidential appointment. The most recent altercation occurred during the President’s annual message reception.
“As public officials, we are expected to endure many things, and I have chosen to ignore these attacks, as I did today,” Togba stated. She added, “While I appreciate the empathy shown by many, I will not be blackmailed or threatened into submitting to his demands for a presidential appointment.”
