Published: November 18, 2024
Monrovia – The President of the National Teachers’ Association of Liberia (NTAL), Madam Mary Mulbah-Nyumah, has called on aggrieved members of the association to accept the recent ruling of the Sixth Judicial Circuit Civil Law Court in Montserrado County, which favored her leadership. She emphasized the need for reconciliation, unity, and peace among all members.
On Monday, November 11, 2024, Judge Golda A. Bonah Elliott of the Sixth Judicial Circuit Civil Law Court delivered a final ruling in the case involving former Secretary General Samuel Y. Johnson, Sr., and other aggrieved NTAL members against Madam Nyumah.
The court rejected a vote of no confidence passed by the aggrieved members, declaring that the NTAL Constitution does not provide for such a measure. Instead, it affirmed that the National President can only be impeached by the Representative Council based on evidence, with such actions subject to review by the National Convention, the NTAL’s highest decision-making body.
“This court hereby declares that as per the Constitution of the NTAL, the National Executive Committee is clothed with the power to mandate an audit of the accounts of the Association,” the ruling further stated.
Addressing a news conference on Friday, November 15, 2024, at the NTAL headquarters, Madam Nyumah praised the court’s decision, describing it as a resolution to the internal disputes within the association. She urged her colleagues to respect the rule of law and abide by the legal ruling.
“The court has ruled, and we expect our colleagues who have had disagreements to set those issues aside, return to the Association, and work together to resolve our problems,” she said.
When questioned about the possibility of the case being appealed to the Supreme Court, Madam Nyumah expressed confidence in her leadership’s preparedness. “We are ready to face any further legal proceedings if they appeal to the Supreme Court,” she stated, expressing optimism about prevailing in any future legal battles.
The aggrieved members had accused Madam Nyumah of several infractions, including the illegal suspension and dismissal of Secretary General Samuel Y. Johnson, Sr., the withdrawal of L$625,000 from the NTAL account for personal use, and the refusal to conduct an audit of the association’s accounts from 2018 to 2022. They also claimed the 66th National Delegates Convention was hijacked under her leadership.
In response, Madam Nyumah accused Johnson and other members of the National Executive Committee impeached during the 2018 convention of spreading misinformation to tarnish her leadership.
“A few months ago, Mr. Samuel Y. Johnson, Sr., and a few impeached members of the NEC appeared on various radio and online platforms spreading falsehoods intended to bring the NTAL into disrepute,” she said.
Madam Nyumah argued that such actions misrepresent the association and fail to serve the interests of teachers and educational workers. She stressed that her leadership remains open to reconciliation but expressed doubts about whether the aggrieved members would accept such an overture.
“Some of them harbor anger as if we are enemies. Even if we extend a reconciliatory hand, I am unsure if they will accept it,” she remarked.
She also alleged that certain individuals who are neither members of the NTAL nor active classroom teachers have influenced the aggrieved members, causing disruptions within the association. “Those who are not in the classroom but pretending to be members are causing more harm than good,” she noted.
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