The NEWS (Monrovia)
5 May 2008
Monrovia — President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is expected to return home today, says she's 'fit and ready' to begin work with renewed body and spirit.
The President said her weeklong medical checkup was comprehensive and expressed satisfaction that the tests were all successful.
The Liberian leader spoke last Saturday from the United States in a live radio telephone interview in reaction to local media reports regarding her health and wellbeing.
The President described the reports as an attempt by detractors who are resistant to progress and bent on taking the country to the old days of extortion, corruption and lawlessness.
The President maintained that the rumors are intended to take away the progress her government is making, by spreading falsehood about her health, with the sole intent of confusing the Liberian people and international community.
"They know that I am at the center of our development progress and if they don't want progress they want to move the catalyst; but that is not going to happen," the Head of State declared.
The President assured Liberians that she is well and healthy and would be returning home this week to continue to carry on her mandate.
"I will return to work for my people, for the change and development the Liberian people so richly deserve," she emphasized.
The Liberian leader pointed out that no amount of negative falsehood will deter her from fulfilling her commitment and mandate, aimed at helping Liberians achieve a better life.
She said there is a groundswell of international support for the country as Liberians work assiduously to see their lives improved.
President Johnson-Sirleaf observed that despite the occasional unsubstantiated reportage, the Liberian press continues to remain aggressive and "has done some good things in disclosing certain wrongs in society, which need to be addressed."
She encouraged the Liberian media to be more investigative, more professional and ascertain the facts, so as not to undermine the positive changes taking place in the country. The head of state indicated that Liberia has a free press, and government must be proud of that.
The Liberian leader said government will continue to exercise restraint in its interaction with the Press. She also emphasized that her government will not suppress the press.
However, she added that in a case where the press does not exercise responsibility in its actions, citizens or aggrieved parties would have the right to seek redress under the rule of law.
Meanwhile, President Johnson-Sirleaf on last Saturday participated in the Commencement Convocation of Indiana University in Bloomington, the United States, where she received honorary doctorate degree from the University.
Copyright © 2008 The NEWS. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
Read comments. Write your own.
IS A SHAME AFRICAN LEADERS WILL ALWAYS HAVE TO GO TO THE WEST FOR THEIR MEDICAL, WHAT'S WORNG WITH PUTTING YOUR OWN MEDICAL INSTITUATIONS INTO IT RIGHTFUL STATUS AND HAVE ALL YOUR TREATMENT DONE RIGHT HERE THEN ALWAYS SPOILING POOR TAXI PAYER MONEY, SHE HAS JUST GONE BACK THERE AGAIN TO SAVE THE LITTLE MONEY SHE STOLE THESE FEW DAYS, WE KNOW THEM.ELLEN IS SAYING SHE IS FIT TO COME BACK AGAIN FOR THE FEW THAT HAS BEEN GATHER TOGATHER AGAIN. IS YOUR TIME SO ENJOY YOURSELF GIRL