Sen. Ballout Under Fire

A group self styled “Citizens United for the Resignation of John Ballout” chanting political slogans and wielded placards at the Capitol Tuesday demanded the immediate resignation of Maryland County Senior Senator John Ballout.
The protesters accused Senator Ballout of being the mastermind behind recent Unity Party Youth protest against President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
“We are of the conviction that Senator Ballout is the real mastermind behind the recent demonstration against the President. His recent comments on Truth FM radio indicate that he was in support of the protest and as such we want him to resign immediately,” said Mr. Sam Tarplah, head of the aggrieved Marylanders.
A group of Youth from the ruling Unity Party last week accused President Sirleaf of nepotism in the appointment of officials of government, and called on her to resign as Standard Bearer of the party.
In response Tuesday at the Capitol Building to the UP youth allegation, Mr. Tarplah dismissed their demand, saying: “President Sirleaf is not just President for the UP, but for the entire nation. We believe that anything like resigning would leave to chaos which we do want.”
He insisted that Sen. Ballout was the master planner of the protest.
But Sen. Ballout, contacted via mobile phone, denied being the mastermind of the UP-Youth protest, and explained that he only intervened based on President Sirleaf’s request.