By Danesius Marteh
Bukon Jadeh Group of Companies chief executive officer Elton Dehcontee Johns has invited Ma Hawa to his Rose Garden Plaza office for a grant on 13 October.
Speaking on the Prime Morning Drive on Prime FM 105.5 on 10 October, Johns said he will make the donation to help Ma Hawa following the stigma she suffered on October 5.
A post went viral on social media in which Ma Hawa was accused of putting human feces in public food as a charm to attract customers in the commercial hub of Red Light in Paynesville.
Johns believes Ma Hawa could have been killed by angry mob judging from how Liberians reacted to similar situations of rumors.
“Politics has eaten the fabric of our society. We went to a senseless war for 15 years. There was no winner. We just had massive destruction, looting and extra [judicial] killings of innocent lives.
“We had the senseless Muslims and Christian war [during the regime of Chairman Gyude Bryant] and the burning of churches and mosques because people spread rumors.
“You listened to the woman. Forget about her broken English. She was very clear. We can’t continue to stigma one ethnic group on the basis of tearing down somebody,” said Johns.
He said he is contributing to Ma Hawa’s business having listened to her thrilling story of how long she has been doing the business to cater for her children.
“I sold rice bread. I sold kerosene in Logan Town. So I am always moved by the stories of people trying to honest living because many people don’t know what I went through.
“I want to use this medium to invite Ma Hawa to come to our office on Tuesday. I will be glad if anyone can give her number to us or just inform her to come to our office.
“She is a struggling [business] person. I saw my mother selling rice bread and lotto to make a living. Ma Hawa has a family that she needs to continue to support,” Johns added.
Explaining how she was accused, Ma Hawa said she exchanged the shop with three persons, who cooked food for public consumption per day.
She said a co-seller, a fat lady with big [b..t] identified as Aisha, sold on 4 October and was arrested by the police for toileting in a nearby area in plastic bag.
Ma Hawa said Aisha was freed after she paid L$3,000 and was surprised by the rumors that she mixes human feces with the food.
She said people in Red Light can attest that she has been selling cooked bowl (public food) for the last 20 years free of accusations or suspicions.
