The Governance Commission (GC) recently honored the Consultant on its Strategic Plan for the next five years (2016-2021). Mr. Don Wheeler was contracted under a USAID-GEMS/GC partnership agreement. His contract recently ended and as a mark of appreciation for a job well done, GC held a little “gowning ceremony” in Wheeler’s honor.Members of GC’s Board of Commissioners headed by Dr. Amos Sawyer graced the ceremony and congratulated Don Wheeler for a successful completion of his contract. Commissioner Elizabeth Mulbah told Don that GC will remember him for years to come for preparing the Strategic Plan which she described as “a very important document” intended to guide GC for the next five years. Madam Mulbah is Vice Chair of GC and heads the Civic Engagement and National Visioning Mandate Area (CENV). The Monitoring and Evaluation, Research and Publication Mandate Area(MERP) headed by Commissioner Othello Gongar housed the office of Don and had worked more closely with him. Dr. Gongar said they enjoyed working with Don and that the gowning ceremony will surely remind him about his time working with the GC family.Dr. Gongar assured Don that GC appreciates his work and assured of the Strategic Plan’s implementation. For her part, Commissioner Ruth Jappah Samukai – with oversight responsibility over National Integrity Systems(NIS) noted that GC truly appreciates the work of Mr. Don Wheeler, and for being so patient with us during his interactions with all five Mandate Areas and Administration. Cllr. Jappah Samukai said she looks forward to receiving a copy of the final SP product. GC’s Executive Director Steve Manley also expressed thanks and appreciation to Don Wheeler for his work and patience.Dr. Amos Sawyer, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of GC joined his colleagues in thanking and appreciating Don for a marvelous job done, and for his patience as had been exhibited during his time at GC. He was sure that the gowning ceremony will bring back fond memories to Don about his stay at GC. The gathering was a bit sentimental. Responding, Mr. Don Wheeler was pleasantly surprised at the gesture of GC and expressed his sincere thanks and appreciation for the honor bestowed on him. Don disclosed that he had earlier confided in his boss how much he would miss the Governance Commission when his contract was over. Upon wearing the “traditional Liberian (male) gown” Don exclaimed “oh it is a perfect fit. It is going to look great when I return to the United States. I’ll tell everyone that I was in Liberia.”Gc’s previous Strategic Plan lasted three years and expired in 2015.
