Though the National Elections Commission (NEC) is yet to officially provide a timetable for the upcoming representative by-election in Nimba County District #5, prominent sons and daughters are gradually making known their intentions to occupy the post.
One of such aspirants for the impending by-election is Mr. Boris Barleah–who has vowed to bring greater agricultural opportunities to the county, especially in his district, if he is given the chance to lead the district.
Barleah is aspiring to replace former Representative Samuel G. Kogar, who was recently elected as senator–replacing the deceased godfather of Nimba, Prince Yormie Johnson.
In an exclusive interview with Daily Observer, Barleah said his dream had always been to create jobs and provide lasting opportunities to people so as to be able to sustain themselves.
He explained that the only way is through agriculture, where farmers will be trained and provided with equipment so as to get involved in commercial farming and forget about substantial farming, of which, he said, cannot give the opportunity needed to effectively support their family.
Mr. Boris Barleah worked with the Ministry of Education for several years and transitioned to the private sector, where he is currently an agriculture organization known as Liberia Farmers Development Cooperation (LIFADCO), the group that is currently implementing for the Ministry of Agriculture in several value chains, rice, cassava and vegetable.
“Since I entered the private sector, I am making an immense contribution in the agriculture sector, where currently we have one of the biggest multipurpose warehouses in Frolay for processing rice and cassava,” he said.
He explained that his organization, LIFADCO is implementing a project that is providing income generating and also creating jobs for rural dwellers of farmers and vulnerable youth as well as single parents.
“Agriculture is the backbone of the country, and it requires more investment from the government, but the political way is undermining agriculture, so if I am opportune to be elected, we will lobby with friends for an increment in the agriculture budget,” he said.
Last month, Nimba participated in a senatorial by – election to replace the late Johnson who died in late November 2024 from a heart attack.
The election brought on board Nimba District Five Representative Samuel G. Kogar as senator, respectively and also created another political gap or vacancy in his constituency.
Although Kogar had been certificated by the National Election Commission as Senator of Nimba, but his previous position is yet to be declared vacant by the House of Representatives as the constitution demands or NEC, but more than 12 persons are desiring to contest for the position, if NEC finally declare it vacant.
Mr. Boris Barleah had contested the position twice; 2011 and 2017 and lost, but he was very optimistic of becoming victorious this time around.
“While working with the Ministry of Education, I ensured most of our brothers and sisters who were teaching voluntarily got on payroll and I am doing the same in the agriculture sector and will do more, if I get up there,” he said.
“Given that Agriculture is the core of our advocacy, here are some of our visions; that Nimba develops her own 100000 trees of oil palm on 667 hectares , Nimba develops a cocoa farm of 200,000 trees or 178 hectares of cocoa and Nimba develops her own rice farming scheme by empowering 2500 young trained farmers with a grant of USD10000 each to cultivate 10 hectares of rice each of swamp yearly in the next 10 years,” he added.
“We will also want Nimba to empower 1000 women in cassava and vegetable and legumes production, using agriculture as a case study of alleviating poverty,” he said.
“Again”, he said, “we want to tell Nimbaians that their money must be invested in lucrative ventures, including Agriculture, Education, Health Education and among others,” he said.
