Togba-Nah Tipoteh
Encyclopedia
Togba-Nah Tipoteh is a politician, economist, and educator, having mostly recently been presidential candidate for Liberia's 2005 elections
, running as the candidate for the Alliance for Peace and Democracy
. He has worked in international development in the United States
, the Netherlands
, Mozambique
, Ghana
, South Africa
and other countries, as well as for the United Nations
system: Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
(UNCTAD), International Monetary Fund
(IMF), African Economic Community
(ECA), and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
(IBRD).
For more than three decades, he has been actively involved with democratic activities in promotion of human rights, liberties, constitutional rule, and growth with development in Liberia and throughout Africa. He is President of the Movement for Justice in Africa (MOJA), an organization with a Pan-African strategy for justice and democracy; Presidential Candidate for the Liberian People's Party (LPP); founding Chairman of the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP), an alliance of Liberian political parties; Director-General of SUSUKUU, Liberia's oldest (founded in 1971), a non-governmental development organization credited by the West Africa Peacekeeping Force (ECOMOG) as helping to disarm over 10,000 combatants; and former Chairman of the Interest Groups of Liberia, a consortium of 32 national organizations with a collective membership of well over one million persons.
Tipoteh is also a businessman, serving as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Kukatornon Reconstruction Corporation. He was Liberia's national Tennis Champion for 15 unbroken years. He created a scholarship program, where he mentors and sends hundreds of children from all counties of Liberia to schools and colleges in Liberia. To his admirers he is known as "the only man on the ground" -- the only presidential candidate to remain in Liberia after the 1997 election.
Tipoteh wearing an Obama's t-shirt the last weekend of the US Presidential election endorsed Barack Obama of the Democratic Party predicting that Obama will win the election.
In a statement endorsing President Sirleaf, Dr. Tipoteh said his party’s decision followed observation and evaluation of the two parties in the run-off, based on the issue of societal transparency.
The FAPL Standard Bearer, and renowned Liberian politician, said their evaluation showed that the ruling Unity Party has a better record for transparency, and noted that the high level of transparency under UP’s leadership provides the opportunity for the FAPL and other parties to freely critique government’s performance.
Dr. Tipoteh stressed that the choice was made freely, as the FAPL places the highest value on freedom in the process of rebuilding Liberia.
In response, the Unity Party Standard Bearer, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, said she was accepting the endorsement with pleasure and pride.
According to an Executive Mansion release, President Johnson said the endorsement was a sign that the Unity Party has reached a place where it can be dedicated to peace, transparency and integrity for the development of Liberia, as it comes from a person who has demonstrated integrity and consistence in principles. “Dr. Tipoteh never wavers in what he believes in. He has spoken out; he has criticized; he has praised; he has taken issues. But in all of those, it was because of the belief that he has. Very few people can show this kind of consistency over the period of forty years,” said the President, in appreciation of the work of the FAPL Standard Bearer.
Madam Johnson Sirleaf said she believes that Dr. Tipoteh and the FAPL would not have endorsed the Unity Party if they did not believe that the party shares the same ideals and can deliver. She described the endorsement as a partnership that will be carried forward with the aim of trying to unite the people, to reconcile the Liberian people in order to keep Liberia on the right course for peace and development.
The Unity Party Standard Bearer urged partisans and supporters of the Freedom Alliance Party of Liberia to reach out to their friends and associates to ensure victory in the second round and for a lasting partnership. “Our first challenge is to win the election, so we will work with you and you will work with us in that regard to bring all under this umbrella toward the achievement of that goal” the President concluded.
The endorsement ceremony took place at the FAPL headquarters in Sinkor. Endorsements of President Sirleaf and her Unity Party have also come from other parties that contested the October 11 Presidential Elections, most prominent among them being the National Union for Democratic Progress (NUDP) party of Senator Prince Y. Johnson.
Following the program in which she received the FAPL endorsement, President Sirleaf resumed campaigning by visiting several communities in Montserrado County, interacting with residents in the run-up to the November 8 run-off election.
former Ms. Fatu Kanneh of Lofa County.
Liberian elections, 2005
The 2005 Liberian general election was held on 11 October 2005, with a runoff election for the presidency held on 8 November of that year. The presidency, as well as all seats in the House of Representatives and Senate were up for election. The election marked the end of the political transition...
, running as the candidate for the Alliance for Peace and Democracy
Alliance for Peace and Democracy
The Alliance for Peace and Democracy is a coalition of two Liberian political parties, the Liberian People's Party and the United People's Party , that contested the 11 October 2005 elections....
. He has worked in international development in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
, Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and other countries, as well as for the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
system: Food and Agriculture Organization
Food and Agriculture Organization
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is a specialised agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Serving both developed and developing countries, FAO acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and...
(FAO), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development was established in 1964 as a permanent intergovernmental body. It is the principal organ of the United Nations General Assembly dealing with trade, investment, and development issues....
(UNCTAD), International Monetary Fund
International Monetary Fund
The International Monetary Fund is an organization of 187 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world...
(IMF), African Economic Community
African Economic Community
The African Economic Community is an organization of African Union states establishing grounds for mutual economic development among the majority of African states...
(ECA), and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development is one of five institutions that compose the World Bank Group. The IBRD is an international organization whose original mission was to finance the reconstruction of nations devastated by World War II. Now, its mission has expanded to fight...
(IBRD).
- Founder & Director - Susuku Incorporated (1971 - )
- Associate Professor of EconomicsEconomicsEconomics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
, Chair of the Economics Department and Director of the Management Research Institute at the University of Liberia.(1971 - 1974) - Budget Advisor to President William Tolbert
- Minister of Planning and Economic Affairs - Government of Liberia (1980 - 1981)under Samuel K. Doe, but resigned citing human rights abuse from the government.
- President - Movement for Justice in AfricaMovement for Justice in AfricaMovement for Justice in Africa is a leftist pan-African political organization that is mostly active in Liberia, with chapters in Ghana and The Gambia. It was founded in 1973 by Togba Nah Tipoteh, who is to this day its president...
- Former Standard Bearer - Liberian People's PartyLiberian People's PartyThe Liberian People's Party is a political party in Liberia.In the 11 October 2005 elections, the party participated as part of the Alliance for Peace and Democracy ....
For more than three decades, he has been actively involved with democratic activities in promotion of human rights, liberties, constitutional rule, and growth with development in Liberia and throughout Africa. He is President of the Movement for Justice in Africa (MOJA), an organization with a Pan-African strategy for justice and democracy; Presidential Candidate for the Liberian People's Party (LPP); founding Chairman of the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP), an alliance of Liberian political parties; Director-General of SUSUKUU, Liberia's oldest (founded in 1971), a non-governmental development organization credited by the West Africa Peacekeeping Force (ECOMOG) as helping to disarm over 10,000 combatants; and former Chairman of the Interest Groups of Liberia, a consortium of 32 national organizations with a collective membership of well over one million persons.
Tipoteh is also a businessman, serving as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Kukatornon Reconstruction Corporation. He was Liberia's national Tennis Champion for 15 unbroken years. He created a scholarship program, where he mentors and sends hundreds of children from all counties of Liberia to schools and colleges in Liberia. To his admirers he is known as "the only man on the ground" -- the only presidential candidate to remain in Liberia after the 1997 election.
Tipoteh wearing an Obama's t-shirt the last weekend of the US Presidential election endorsed Barack Obama of the Democratic Party predicting that Obama will win the election.
In a statement endorsing President Sirleaf, Dr. Tipoteh said his party’s decision followed observation and evaluation of the two parties in the run-off, based on the issue of societal transparency.
The FAPL Standard Bearer, and renowned Liberian politician, said their evaluation showed that the ruling Unity Party has a better record for transparency, and noted that the high level of transparency under UP’s leadership provides the opportunity for the FAPL and other parties to freely critique government’s performance.
Dr. Tipoteh stressed that the choice was made freely, as the FAPL places the highest value on freedom in the process of rebuilding Liberia.
In response, the Unity Party Standard Bearer, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, said she was accepting the endorsement with pleasure and pride.
According to an Executive Mansion release, President Johnson said the endorsement was a sign that the Unity Party has reached a place where it can be dedicated to peace, transparency and integrity for the development of Liberia, as it comes from a person who has demonstrated integrity and consistence in principles. “Dr. Tipoteh never wavers in what he believes in. He has spoken out; he has criticized; he has praised; he has taken issues. But in all of those, it was because of the belief that he has. Very few people can show this kind of consistency over the period of forty years,” said the President, in appreciation of the work of the FAPL Standard Bearer.
Madam Johnson Sirleaf said she believes that Dr. Tipoteh and the FAPL would not have endorsed the Unity Party if they did not believe that the party shares the same ideals and can deliver. She described the endorsement as a partnership that will be carried forward with the aim of trying to unite the people, to reconcile the Liberian people in order to keep Liberia on the right course for peace and development.
The Unity Party Standard Bearer urged partisans and supporters of the Freedom Alliance Party of Liberia to reach out to their friends and associates to ensure victory in the second round and for a lasting partnership. “Our first challenge is to win the election, so we will work with you and you will work with us in that regard to bring all under this umbrella toward the achievement of that goal” the President concluded.
The endorsement ceremony took place at the FAPL headquarters in Sinkor. Endorsements of President Sirleaf and her Unity Party have also come from other parties that contested the October 11 Presidential Elections, most prominent among them being the National Union for Democratic Progress (NUDP) party of Senator Prince Y. Johnson.
Following the program in which she received the FAPL endorsement, President Sirleaf resumed campaigning by visiting several communities in Montserrado County, interacting with residents in the run-up to the November 8 run-off election.
Education
- College of West Africa (high school)
- University of LiberiaUniversity of LiberiaThe University of Liberia is a publicly funded institution of higher learning located in Monrovia, Liberia. Authorized by the national government in 1851, the school opened in 1863 as Liberia College and became a university in 1951. The school is one of the oldest institutions of higher learning...
, Ohio (bachelor's degree) - UCLA (master's degree)
- University of Nebraska, 1969 (Ph.d in economics, as a Harvard UniversityHarvard UniversityHarvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
/United Nations Special Fund Fellow in Economic Development)
Awards
For Courage: by the National Internally Displaced People Association (NIDPA), a Liberian Civil society organization with membership from 9 displaced camps.Family
Born in Monrovia to Rev. and Mrs. Samuel Togba Roberts of Grand Kru County. Marriedformer Ms. Fatu Kanneh of Lofa County.
2005 Presidential elections
- More info (including other candidates): Liberia elections, 2005