The Morning of April 14, 1979: The Progressive Alliance of Liberia (PAL) Was Technically Established to Undermined the Government of President Williams R. Tolbert as a Result of Delayed in Salary Payment for Liberia’s Foreign Service staffs Serving at the UN Mission in America (A course Championed by Gabriel Bacchus Matthews).
Accordingly, Gabriel Bacchus Matthews (GBW) was a Liberian politician who is considered one of the leaders in developing a multi-party system in Liberia, long dominated by the True Whig Party. GBW founded the Progressive Alliance of Liberia (PAL), the first legal opposition party in more than 100 years at the time, and later, PAL was reorganized into the Progressive People’s Party (PPP).
It was often believed that Matthews embarked on a national mission to reconcile Liberia and bring together the ruling elite and the indigenous majority population for lasting peace and political stability.
On the contrary but holding constant the purpose of Multiparty Democracy, When Tolbert became president, he immediately appointed his brother Stephen Tolbert as Minister of Finance who will later develop a policy that diverted all the Government of Liberia revenue generated at the foreign missions back to Monrovia and in return, the Ministry of Finance will pay staffs serving in foreign missions instead of the opposite where (Gabriel Bacchus Matthews will paid himself and his staffs and then, sent the remaining money to Monrovia).
When the decision to transfer all revenue generated in foreign missions back to Monrovia before the Ministry of Finance can process payment of monthly salaries abroad, the Liberia foreign mission at the UN experienced SALARY DELAYED which then led Gabriel Bacchus Matthews to pay himself and his staffs then, he sent the remaining money to Monrovia.
The office of the President got furious of Bacchus unauthorized action not adhering to government policy which was instituted to avoid corruption and bribery. The President in defense of his policy and his word made the system to charged Gabriel Bacchus Matthews with the crime of embezzlement and later dismissed him from his post at the foreign mission in New York.
Meanwhile, it is important to mention that violation of government policy can have serious consequences, including eroding public trust in the government and undermining the rule of law. It is important for governments to enforce their policies and hold officials accountable for their actions in order to maintain transparency and integrity in governance.
The Formation of the Progressive Alliance of Liberia
Reflecting on the story above, this was how G. Bacchus Matthews encouraged some influential Liberians in the USA to establish the Progressive Alliance of Liberia (PAL). PAL moved to Liberia and became her political struggle against the Tolbert regime.
Some of the Associations behind the formation of PAL:
Gabriel Bacchus Matthews who played a key role in the formation of the Progressive Alliance of Liberia (PAL) in the 1970s. He and other progressive politicians sought to challenge the ruling True Whig Party and advocate for social and economic reforms in Liberia.
The PAL was formed in 1975 with Matthews as its leader, bringing together a coalition of opposition parties and groups that sought to bring about political change in Liberia. The PAL’s platform included calls for land reform, increased representation for marginalized groups, and an end to the dominance of the True Whig Party.
Under Matthews’ leadership, the PAL played a significant role in organizing protests and demonstrations against the government, drawing support from a wide range of Liberians who were discontented with the status quo.
The PAL’s efforts eventually contributed to the downfall of the True Whig Party in the 1980 coup that brought Samuel Doe to power. Although Matthews and the PAL were initially viewed as champions of reform and progress, their legacy has been mixed, with criticism of their handling of the transition to a new government and their failure to fully address issues of corruption and governance in Liberia.
Nonetheless, Matthews and the PAL remain important figures in Liberian political history for their efforts to challenge the established power structures and advocate for change.
When PAL moved to Liberia for its political sojourned, The Minister of Agriculture announced an increased in the price of imported rice to allow farmers to produce more rice locally. This message was misinterpreted by PAL to mean that “government of Liberia has planned to increase the price of locally produced rice to enable some government officials who were importing rice to gain more profits “. And so, at the morning of April 14, 1979, the rice riot was opened and the rest is history.
In conclusion, PAL was particularly established to fight the True Whig Party headed by President Williams R. Tolbert who dismissed G. Bacchus Matthews on embezzlement crime. This episode is also part of Liberia’s unintended political consequences that gradually led to the overthrown of President Williams R. Tolbert.
Here are Some Inspiring Historical Personalities in the Fight Towards Social Justice in Africa:
- Marcus Garvey – Jamaican political leader and founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association, which had a significant influence on the progressive movement in Liberia.
- W.E.B. Du Bois – American civil rights activist and co-founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), who advocated for African American rights in Liberia.
- William V.S. Tubman – President of Liberia from 1944 to 1971, who implemented progressive social and economic reforms in the country.
- Edward Wilmot Blyden – Liberian educator, writer, and diplomat who promoted African unity and self-reliance in the Progressive Era.
- Amos Jay Cummings – American journalist and politician who advocated for African American rights and supported the progressive movement in Liberia.
- Carter Woodson – African American historian and founder of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, who promoted the idea of a progressive alliance between African Americans and Africans in Liberia.
Sekou Soko Kamara/ Advocate & Philosopher
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