Togba-Nah Tipoteh

**Togba-Nah Tipoteh** (wey dem born am for 1941) be economist, teacher den politician. He run for president for three elections. For over thirty years, he dey inside democratic work to promote human rights, freedom, constitutional rule den proper development for Liberia plus all Africa. He be President for de Movement for Justice insyd Africa (MOJA); he be de first Chairman for de Collaborating Political Parties (CPP), wey be one alliance of Liberian political parties; he too be de founder den Director-General of Susukuu Incorporated (1971– ), wey be de oldest non-governmental development organization for Liberia. ECOMOG, de West Africa Peacekeeping Force, give Susukuu praise say dem help disarm over 10,000 fighters den child soldiers during de 1997 disarmament program through one “school for gun” programme. He too serve as former chairman for de Interest Groups of Liberia, wey be one group of 32 national organizations wey get total membership of over one million people.

## Early life
Togba-Nah Tipoteh na Monrovia dem born am for 1941. Ein poppie be Reverend Samuel Togba Roberts den ein mommie be Mrs Roberts, both from Grand Kru County. He go school for College of West Africa (high school) den University of Liberia. He get bachelor's den master's degree for economics from Ohio University for Athens den Ohio State University for Columbus, US, for June 1963 den 1964 respectively. For 1969, he get ein doctorate degree for economics while he dey study as Harvard University/United Nations Special Fund Fellow for Economic Development for University of Nebraska. For early 1970s, Tipoteh be associate professor of economics, head for de Economics Department, den director for de Management Research Institute for University of Liberia (1971–1974). From 1964 go reach 1994, he be Liberia ein national tennis champion for 30 years straight.

## Political career
Insyd 1973, Tipoteh form de Movement for Justice in Africa (MOJA), one leftist pan-African political group wey play big role for fight for social justice den democracy for Liberia insyd de 1970s. He be serve as budget advisor to President William R. Tolbert, den for dat position he talk say government dey waste resources, so he push for public management reforms.

He be de first Minister for Planning and Economic Affairs (1980–1981) under Samuel K. Doe ein regime wey overthrow President Tolbert, but he resign after 15 months for office, say de government dey abuse human rights.

Insyd 1983, dem form de Liberian People's Party (LPP) as de electoral side of MOJA. For de 1997 elections for Liberia, Tipoteh run as presidential candidate for LPP, wey he get 1.61% of de vote. For de 2005 elections, he be candidate for Alliance for Peace and Democracy—dis one be alliance between LPP den United People's Party (UPP), anoda veteran opposition movement—weh he get 2.3%.

Insyd Liberia ein 2011 elections, Tipoteh be de candidate for Freedom Alliance Party of Liberia (FAPL). After dem knock am out for de first round, he endorse Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for de second round. For ein statement, he talk say de party ein decision come after dem observe den evaluate de two parties wey enter de run-off, based on societal transparency matters.

Tipoteh be businessman too, den he dey serve as chairman of de board plus chief executive officer for Kukatornon Reconstruction Corporation. Through ein scholarship programme, he dey mentor den send hundreds of students—mainly pikin dem—from all de counties for Liberia go school den college for de country insyd. He marry former Ms. Fatu Kanneh from Lofa County, den dem get one adopted son, wey be former child soldier under war lord Charles Taylor ein NPFL. To ein fans, dem dey call am "de only man on de ground"—meaning he be de only presidential candidate wey remain for Liberia after Taylor ein 1997 election win. Tipoteh, wey wear Obama ein T-shirt for de last weekend before de US presidential election, endorse Barack Obama of de Democratic Party, den he predict say Obama go win.

He dey work for international development for de United States, de Netherlands, Mozambique, Ghana, South Africa plus other countries. He sana work for de United Nations system insyd: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), International Monetary Fund (IMF), African Economic Community (ECA) plus de International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), plus others.

## Education

* University of Liberia
* Ohio University (bachelor's degree)
* Ohio State University (master's degree)
* University of Nebraska (Ph.D. in economics)
* Harvard University-United Nations Special Fund Fellow

## Publications

* *Democracy: The Call of the Liberian People* (1981)
* More than 600 articles on economic growth and development
* *Bite and Blow*
* *Pepperbird Bound for Freedom*

## Awards

* Award for courage by the National Internally Displaced People Association (NIDPA),
* Award for Justice by a Liberian Civil society organization with membership from nine displaced camps,
* Democracy and Peace: The Golden Image Award of Liberia,
* Member of Omicron Delta Epsilon, Economics Honor Society of the United States of America,
* Inaugural Lecturer of the African Academy of Sciences Lecture Series,
* Inducted into the Order of African Redemption with the Rank of Grand Band,
* Man of the Year, as selected by media entities,
* Politician of the Year, as selected by media entities,
* Honored as Undefeated Retired Tennis Champion of Liberia for thirty consecutive years (1964-1994)

## References