Monrovia – A group calling itself Sapo Campaigners has raised an alarm over the alleged exclusion and attempt by the Government of Liberia(GoL) to diminish the cultural heritage and sense of belonging in the society by failing to recognize the existence of the tribe on the printed 1000 denomination Liberian dollar banknote, which is currently in circulation on the local market.
By Obediah Johnson
The group observed that the 1000 denomination of the Liberian bank note printed by the former Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) led-Government of President George Manneh Weah comprises of the traditional masks of all of the other tribes of Liberia excluding Sapo.
In a communication dated April 14 and addressed to the leaderships of both the House of Representatives and the Liberian Senate, the Sapo Campaigners, recalled that they sought relief before the Sixth Judicial Circuit of Montserrado County by way of declaratory judgment following the issuance of the One Thousand Dollars Bank Note by Central Bank of Liberia, on which masks symbolizing other recognized ethnic groups of Liberia were depicted, while the mask of the Sapo Ethnic group was excluded.
The group recalled that though the trial court dismissed the case on lack of standing and capacity and also on the political question doctrine, the Supreme Court of Liberia affirmed that “the Sapo people possess legal capacity and standing to bring such claims; and the Central Bank of Liberia’s exclusion of the Sapo mask constitutes an injury to the Sapo people.”
The Sapo Campaigners claimed that by this landmark ruling, the Supreme Court establishes both their legal rights to seek redress and the legitimacy of their grievance.
“The Sapo Campaigners, with utmost respect, write on behalf of the Sapo People, to request the Legislature’s urgent attention and favourable action to inscribe the cultural mask of the Sapo tribe on the One Thousand Dollars Liberian Bank Note which include the masks of sixteen of Liberia’s seventeen tribes excluding only the Sapo people,” the group stated.
The group recalled that the Sapo tribe comprises of indigenous ethnic group of Liberia with a distinct culture, language and traditions and their historical presence predates the establishment of the modern Liberian State in 1822 and its subsequent independence in 1847.
They maintained that Sapo People are taxpayers who have made significant contributions to Liberia and the world in general.
They added that the Sapo tribe has produced eminent public officials including Maj/Gen. Thomas Weh Syen, former Vice Head of State of the People’s Redemption Council (PRC) Hon. Oscar J. Quiah, former Councilman, Council of State, D. Karn Carlor, former Commissioner, Governance Commission, Mobutu Vlah Nyenpan, former Senator and former Minister of Public Works, Republic of Liberia, Joe Wylie, Champion of multi-party democracy and Richard S. Panton, Professor, Graduate School, University of Liberia.
The Sapo Campaigners emphasized that the exclusion of the Sapo people from a national symbol designed to reflect Liberia’s ethnic diversity and unity has inflicted unbearable and profound harm upon their community.
According to them, this exclusion undermines and bruises Sapo people sense of belonging to the Liberian nation-state.
They maintained that the situation also inflicts psychological and emotional injury and sends a message of second-class citizenship to Sapo children and future generations and weakens national unity which is the foundation for a stable society.
“The ruling of the court is not a matter of symbolic preference- it is an injury with real consequences for the dignity and civic participation of the Sapo people.”
The Sapo Campaigners noted that as the Legislature convenes for this Special Session to debate critical national issues including the printing and issuance of new currency into the Liberian economy, the Legislature should see the need to authorize the Central Bank of Liberia to include the Sapo Cultural Mask on any new printing or reissue 1000 Liberian dollar banknote.
They want lawmakers to also ensure that future national symbols reflect Liberia’s ethnic diversity.
“This call is grounded in the conviction that national unity is strengthened when every community sees itself reflected in the symbols of the State. We trust in the Legislature’s Commitment to justice, equality and national unity, and we are confident this Honorable body will take favorable action to ensure that mask of the Sapo people is represented on our new national currency.”
