MONROVIA – In the wake of severe economic hardship in the country, the Government of Liberia (GOL), through the National Port Authority (NPA) has made a payment of US$30,000 to United States-based Liberian musician Edwin Darlington Tweh for performing his ‘Born To Win’ song for four (4) minutes at Liberia’s 172nd Independence Day Celebration.

Edwin D. Tweh
alias D12 is a young Liberian artist and music engineer residing in the United
States of America.

His hit songs titled
‘Nobody’ and ‘Born to win’ have gained him numerous fans in Liberia, including
President George Weah.

D12 was invited
by the Liberian government to perform at Liberia’s 172nd Independence Day
Celebration held at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville,
outside Monrovia.

He was hand-picked
by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to perform before President George Manneh Weah,
who is one of his biggest fans, and other dignitaries and foreign guests at the
Independence Day Celebration.

After his Independence Day performance, D12 also performed at the Old Road Joe Bar Market dedication ceremony upon the request of President Weah on August 7, 2019.

The Liberian
Chief Executive has been seen on numerous occasions dancing “Born to Win” at
national programs and events organized by both the government and his Coalition
for Democratic Change (CDC) party.

President Weah
sang and danced to the song at the Joe Bar Market dedication ceremony, and the
campaign launch of his party’s candidates, Abu Bana Kamara, and Paulita Wie held
at the CDC headquarters, during the campaign period of the just ended combined
Montserrado County by-elections.

Eminent
government officials, including the Speaker of the 54th National Legislature,
Bhofal Chambers, Senate Pro-Tempore, Albert Chie, and several other party
officials, including CDC Chairman Mulbah Morlu join the President when he sang
and danced Born to win.”

The US$30,000 Ecobank
check to D12 reads: “For service rendered to the NPA from August 1, 2019 to July
31, 2020”.

A photograph of
the check went viral on the social media on Friday, September 13.

In a statement
posted on Facebook, Malcolm Scott, Communications Director of the NPA, Confirmed
the payment and issuance of US$ 30, 000 check to the D12 Music INC.

According to
him, “Born to win”, is a popular Liberian Music admired by many home
and abroad.

“When news
broke out in Liberia that the Group was to officially perform the song during Liberia’s
172nd Independence, many Liberians hailed the Independence Day Celebration
Organizing Committee’s farsightedness for promoting Liberian music and musicians
in general. For the past forty-eight hours, critics of the Weah’s
administration have taken heels to the social media with photos of the official
check stipulating the amount of USD 30, 000.00 issued on July 31, 2019 by the
National Port Authority to Edwin D. Tweh of the D12 Music Group Inc for musical
services provided during the Independence Celebration claiming that the amount
paid was exorbitant,” he stated.

Scott, quoting
NPA Managing Director Bill Twehway as saying on a local radio talk show that
the “check in circulation on the Facebook was valid and authentic.”

He confirmed
that the amount of US$30,000.00 was paid to five persons of the D12 Group Music
INC for their services rendered, but was issued in the name of the group’s head
and there was nothing to hide.

The NPA
Communication Director, however, fell short to disclose the names of the
remaining four persons.

“It is
unfortunate for some Liberians to criticize the NPA’s decision to pay fellow
Liberians who rendered services for the country claiming that the amount in
question was excessive. I think this is an attack and insult on the
entertainment industry and I am calling on members of the industry to condemn
this,” he quoted Mr. Tweahway as further saying.

According to
the NPA statement, the amount covers a one-year contract deal between the
Government of Liberia (GOL) and the group for musical performances whenever the
group is called upon during public events and encompasses the trip fare to and
from the USA, lodging feeding and extra amenities of the group during the
Independence Celebration.

Post Views:
7

Source