Education is a key ingredient for acquiring political knowledge and leadership

By Saki T. Golafale

"Being academically knowledgeable" or "to know book" as it is said in Liberia, has become a major point of discussion in our body politics. One group of people has condemned the essence of academic education as a basic requirement for political leadership while another group holds onto the belief that education matters for political leadership, especially for the presidency. 

When Senator George Weah stepped into the presidential race in 2004, it wasn't strange to many who followed our politics during the Charles Taylor's era when it was rumored that Mr. Weah was eying the presidency. Very soon, while Liberians were still nursing the agonizing experiences from the war, they were faced with the huge task of deciding between a highly educated Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and a football icon, George Weah, who barely had a high school education. Did education matter by then? To many, it didn't matter. However, the result of the 2005 elections did answer some questions. Whether it was based on the lack of solid education and political experience that robbed Mr. Weah the chance to lead one of the poorest countries in the world or it was Mrs. Sirleaf's highly rated and energized campaign that handed her the golden opportunity of becoming Africa's first elected female president, the result of 2005 presidential election does matter to Liberians. Mr. Weah's loss to Mrs. Sirleaf in 2005, regardless of how history records it, has, to a greater extent, influenced Liberia's democracy. A democracy where the debate over who is educated or politically educated to lead is still ongoing. 

An evidence to this is Mr. Weah's cognizance of his limited education to lead which might have prompted his decision to further his education. After 13 years, the essence of education to political leadership still remains a debate. Mr. Weah now presents himself as a bachelor and masters degrees holder, which were missing from his CV in 2005. He has also represented the people of Montserrado in the Senate for three years. On the other hand, Vice President, Joseph Boakai, with a BA degree, presents a long list of public service experience, including being vice president for 12 years. As Abraham Darius Dillon would say, "going by academic credentials Weah is or should be more educated than Boakai". Whether  Mr. Dillon was being sarcastic or not, this is a fact. Does the difference in academic credential end the debate of educated vs uneducated? It certainly doe not! Mr. Weah has been labeled as "uneducated" by some of his supporters and nonsupporters despite his reportedly "earned" degrees. A recent outburst of social media posts by Liberia's education minister, George K. Werner, in support of Mr. Weah confirms this. For this, Mr. Werner has been condemned in many quarters and labeled "unqualified" to serve as minister of education. Contrary to Werner's argument. Weah reportedly went to "school" to get himself prepared for the presidency. 

It is generally known that acquiring academic degree differs from being considered "educated". While education is not only about academic papers but also about how one conducts himself for the general good of society, three university professors define education as not merely of bookish facts but the fundamental ability to think clearly. Does Mr. Weah think clearly before he speaks? Do his statements correlate with what he does politically? The evidence of Weah's poor output unveils every time he speaks in public or on an interview. His thoughts on important issues drift far apart from reality and make one question his political judgment and his ability to lead. 

In recent times, Mr. Weah told Liberians that "protecting Elen Johnson-Sirleaf" is his most important agenda as president. He has also expressed his desire to support Robert Sirleaf's bid for the Senate if he joins his CDC party. More interestingly, his criticism of the Sirleaf's government has naturally died and recently went on to grade her government 80%, something many political pundits rated him low. On his sharpness on socioeconomic issues, Mr. Weah has presented one of the most wired economic approach to budget shortfall as seen directly quoted below (unedited).

" When rice is expensive and you know da you got a shortfall in the budget, then reduce the price of rice so those who all da na even working but can make ends meet can buy it. So dor when there shortfall, we can na again support scarcity. You understand? What need to be done for allor us because we have a responsibility."

It is mind-boggling to think that Mr. Weah was serious when he made those statements, but his body language, as seen in this video confirms his seriousness at the issue. Additionally, Mr. Weah's speeches, to a greater extent, makes no sense to many. His famous speech in Nimba County and many others are reasons to condemn Weah's master's degree. While his education remains a question, his political education also remains blurry as "education is a key ingredient for acquiring political knowledge" in this modern time. Has Mr. Weah acquired political knowledge to lead Africa's oldest republic? Has Mr. Weah demonstrated his ability to lead based on proposed policies as a real political leader would do? Certainly not!

We must be glad to know how education has influenced our nation and the democracy we enjoy, but the question of who is "educated" or "uneducated" and politically knowledgeable to lead will continue to surface in our body politics. We haven't reached a point in our history where people are punished for being "educated" or "uneducated". But we have reached a point where we can collectively set standards as to who leads and who does not. While Mr. Weah himself has not publically agreed that he lacks solid education and knowledge of political leadership, despite his embarrassing and distorted speeches, it is evident that Weah's continuous expression of his ignorance of political leadership has resonated with many, and that for which, voters will have on their minds at the ballot box.

About the author: Saki Golafale holds a BSc. degree in chemistry from the University of Liberia and is currently a Ph.D. candidate at Clark Atlanta University where his research focuses on functional materials for gas adsorption and photochemistry. He hails from Grand Cape Mount County, Liberia. He can be reached via email at stgolafale@gmail.com