SIRLEAF, Hon. Varney A.

SIRLEAF, Hon. Varney A.

Minister’s Profile: Honorable Varney Ali Sirleaf took office as Minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) on February 19, 2018 after his nomination by His Excellency President George Manneh Weah in January, his confirmation by the Liberian Senate and subsequent appointment. Before his appointment to the post of Minister Hon. Sirleaf served as Deputy Minister for Administration of MIA for six years (2012-2017). On January 22, 2018, Honorable Sirleaf, then Deputy Minister in the previous Administration, was one of the few officials of government directed by newly inaugurated President Weah to hold over the entity until further notice. Honorable Sirleaf succeeded Bong County Senator Dr. Henrique F. Tokpa who served as the last Minister of Internal Affairs under the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Administration.

Minister Sirleaf first joined Government as Assistant Minister for Administration and Logistics, Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs on

January 7, 2006, a position he held until April 30, 2012 when he was transferred to MIA at Deputy Minister for Administration.

Early Life and Education

He was born in Mecca Town, Suehn-Mecca District, Bomi County on May 14, 1965. He completed primary education in Mecca Town. He later enrolled and completed junior high education at the Matilda Newport Junior High School in Monrovia in 1983, subsequently completed high school in 1986 at the AME Zion Academy, Monrovia, Liberia.

In pursuit of higher education, Honorable enrolled at the University of Liberia where he obtained a BBA Degree in Accounting in 2000.

Honorable Sirleaf holds a Master’s of Science Degree in Regional Science from the University of Liberia, which he achieved in 2011.

Hon. Sirleaf several other certificates to his credit.

Additional Experience while at the Ministry of State

Minister Sirleaf was very helpful while working along with the President of the Republic of Liberia during her visits to Grand Gedeh and Nimba Counties in order to cater to the Ivorian Refugees there. He also worked along with Her Excellency in carrying out humanitarian work to orphanages in and around Liberia, old folk homes, religious institutions etc., this helped to expose Minister Sirleaf to a bit of social work while handling the Presidential Special Project Section of the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs.

Honorable Sirleaf acted on many occasions as Deputy Minister for Administration, and at some point in time as Minister.

Additional Experience while at the Ministry of Internal Affairs

Minister Sirleaf has been involved in the mediation process between counties and communities with disputes. He has also mediated between concessions and community dwellers, such as Sime Darby Plantations, SIFCA and MOPP, Golden Veroleum, Equatorial Palm Oil, Salala Rubber Corporation and Cavalla Rubber. His involvement has helped concessions companies in reconciling with these communities in land acquisition. His interventions in settling these land disputes between communities, and concessionaires has greatly helped maintained these companies to operate in our economy.

Boundary Disputes: He has successfully worked to resolve intra and inter-county boundary disputes, noticeable being the boundary settlement between Grand Gedeh and River Gee counties in 2017. River Gee County was established by Former President Charles G. Taylor without a clearly defined border. It was through the instrumentality of Hon. Sirleaf, working with stakeholders of both River Gee and Grand Gedeh counties that we can proudly say today as a nation that there is peaceful co-existence between and amongst citizens of these counties through the establishment of a now clearly defined boundary.

Peace & Reconciliation: The Minister has been involved with many peace and reconciliation initiatives around the country. Paramount amongst them was the making of peace between citizens of Grand Gedeh and Nimba counties. That meeting took place in the historic town called Gaye Town in Gbarzon district, Grand Gedeh County where chiefs and elders of these 2 counties assembled with funding being provided by the Carter Center to discuss issues as they relate to peaceful co-existence amongst them. To date, this peace is holding very well.

Minister Sirleaf headed the Liberian delegation to the 2^nd leg of the JCCEM (Joint council of Chiefs & Elders Conference) in Guiglo, La Cote d’Ivoire which brought together chiefs, elders, youth, women and traditional leaders of Liberia and Cote d’Ivoire to discuss issues of reconciliation and peaceful co-existence along the border. One of the major issues discussed was the cross border trade between the two countries. This affected Liberian market women greatly. Reasoning was brought to bear having discussed this issue of cross border trade that affects the economic livelihood of Liberian business women. It was agreed by Presidents, H.E. Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf & Alassane Quattara, that the border needed to be re-opened. The border has since been re-opened and cross-border trade has been enhanced.

Repatriation: Hon. Sirleaf led the Liberian delegation to Abidjan, La Cote d’Ivoire to engage his Ivorian counterpart in discussions that would lead to the peaceful repatriation of Ivorian refugees in Liberia. This meeting culminated to a 2^nd meeting being called in Monrovia in order to concretize and begin the repatriation of Liberia refugees of 15,000 in 2016.

Furthermore, Minister Sirleaf is an Executive Member of the Liberia National Hajj Committee. He has successfully coordinated the travels of Liberian Muslim pilgrims to Mecca. This year alone, 325 Liberians, constituting the highest number of pilgrims are currently in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

Decentralization: Minister Sirleaf has always championed decentralization of governance in Liberia. From 2015 to 2017, he was instrumental in the establishment of the County Service Centers in the 15 counties of Liberia during his service as Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs. Today, his quest is the sustainability of the Service centers and implementation of the Local Government Act of 2018.