I stand before you today, not just as a political leader, but as a citizen deeply concerned about good governance for the transformation of our country for the better. While we must acknowledge the efforts and accomplishments of the current administration under President Joseph Boakai, we cannot turn a blind eye to the missteps and glaring shortcomings that continue to hinder our nation’s progress.
THE POSITIVES
Let us start by recognizing the positive strides made by the Boakai administration.
The first positive step is the efforts being made to implement the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, especially the establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court.
The second positive steps were the interventions on some major highways in the country, during the first three months in power, although because of the heavy rains, the conditions of the roads are getting bad again.
The efforts made in improving the environmental conditions of Liberia, the credibility of our passports, the requirement of motorcyclists to wear helmets and to restrict the number of passengers, the revocation of illegal diplomatic passports, the auditing of government agencies and publication of the audit reports are all positive steps. Government should be commended for its initial steps in cleaning Monrovia and Paynesville in the first three months, although the situation is declining again.
President Boakai scored a historical point recently when he increased the number of women on the Supreme Court Bench. For the first time in the history of Liberia, there are three women justices on the Supreme Court Bench.
While all Liberians should recognize these laudible steps, there are some missteps that need to be pointed out at this early stage of our government in the interest of building a better Liberia.
Failure to Adhere to the Rule of Law
Governance by adherence to the rule of law is fundamental to the success of any demoncratically elected government. President Boakai’s administration has demonstrated a troubling lack of respect for some laws made for the governance of Liberia. As said ealier, the Boakai’s administration failed to follow the law made by the legislature in 1973 for the formation of the government inclusion, section 10.2 of the Executive Law. This law has not been amended or repeal. We have witnessed dismissals of government employees for mere criticism of the President on social media. This undermines our constitutional right to freedom of speech and fosters an environment of fear. Yet, President Weah in the first few months of his administration, repeal all the anti-speech laws, Sedition, Criminal libel against the President and Criminal Malevolence. Our laws on procurement and other statutes for the governance of our country should be followed without exception or excuse. For example, the recent violence was based on illegal search warrant. Because the search warrant was illegal, all the actions that were based on the illegal search warrant was wrong. Therefore, government was wrong and bear the full cost of the properties that were damaged and the treatment of those who were wounded. This government must govern according to the laws of Liberia. The law is the law until it is amended, repeal or until the Supreme Court says otherwise.
Lack of Seriousness in Fighting Corruption
Corruption continues to plague our country, and despite early promises of reform, the Boakai administration has not taken corruption seriously. High-level officials implicated in corrupt practices remain untouched, while civil servants, who struggle daily to make ends meet, see no improvements in their wages or working conditions. The fight against corruption must begin with our leaders being held accountable. The people of Liberia will have confidence in the government’s seriousness about fighting corruption, if it begins to hold its own officials accountable and not make excuses for them. I want to let current government officials know that there is no secret in government. When you steal the comptroller, the chief account, the procurement director will know. Even your driver and personal assistant and security officers will know.
A Government of Inclusion – The Executive Law of Liberia (Section 10.2, 1973)
President Boakai promised a government of inclusion, but instead, we have seen an administration that is deeply exclusionary. The government is failing to follow the long-established formula for inclusion, as mandated by the Executive Law of Liberia (Section 10.2, 1973). The Executive Law Section 10.2 says, “As much as practicable, the President of Liberia shall appoint one cabinet minister from each of the counties of Liberia.” President Tolbert followed this law when in 1975 he appointed Jackson F. Doe of Nimba county as Minister of Education, Throho Kpahai of Grand Gedeh County, Minister of Post and Telecommunications, James Y. Gbabea of Bong County, Minister of Defense and Dr. Edward Beyan Kesselly of Lofa County Minister of Information, when Liberia had nine counties. This law provides a blueprint for ensuring that all Liberians, irrespective of their political or ethnic affiliations, have a stake in the governance process. Sadly, this has not been the case.
Curtailing Freedom of Expression
We cannot ignore the dismissals of government employees for expressing their views on social media. This government must embrace criticism and opposition, not silence it. Freedom of expression is the bedrock of any democracy, and this administration’s actions demonstrate a blatant disregard for this fundamental right.
Failure to Take a Nationwide Tour
Since assuming office, President Boakai has not taken a comprehensive tour of the country to assess the state of development firsthand. How can we expect to craft a detailed and effective development roadmap without truly understanding the challenges that Liberians face in every corner of this nation? It is through such tours that past leaders have identified and addressed the needs of our people, from infrastructure to social services.
Mismanagement of Protests and Use of the Military
On matters of public protests, the administration has failed to follow established police protocols. There are standard operating procedures that dictate how the police should engage with protesters. First, the police patrol unit is supposed to intervene, followed by the Police Special Unit (PSU) in cases of violence. Only when protestors are armed with lethal weapons should the Emergency Response Unit (ERU) or military be involved. The use of the military at the airport during the arrival of former President George Weah was unnecessary and set a dangerous precedent. The people who came to welcome him were unarmed and posed no threat.
Failure to Develop a Friendly Posture with Former President Weah
Amissed opportunity for national unity has been the failure of President Boakai to build a relationship with former President Weah. In the aftermath of such a close and contentious election, it is vital that our leaders engage in dialogue and reconciliation to reduce political tension. By distancing himself from the former President, Boakai is missing an opportunity to heal the divisions in our nation. The attempt by the Boakai administration to disgrace and shame former President Weah is a serious misstep. To deny former President Weah the use of Presidential or VIP lounge is an unnecessary attempt to introduce a superficial topic in our national discourse. Entering a presidential lounge or even sitting in a presidential chair does not make one a president. Otherwise the janitors that clean the president’s office everyday would be presidents. This reaction of the government is childish, to say the least. It is a sentimental issue that has no positive value in our collective effort to build a better Liberia.
Nobody can succeed in taking the place that George Weah occupies in the history of Liberia. He was the first Liberian player to put Liberia on the football map of the world. He is loved by a large percentage of the people of Liberia. Yes, it was not advisable for him to enter politics. It missplaced him in Liberian history. But, as a professional player he understands the rule of any game, including the political game of election. He graciously accepts defeat as he did recently. This is a good example for the young people and all Liberian politicians to follow.
Nobody should support any effort by the Boakai Government to disrespect, disgrace or shame former President Weah in anyway, form, shape or manner. No effort should be made to make former President Weah uncomfortable in Liberia and to force him into exile. History has shown us that it is not good for our country. President Taylor’s government did not end its six years because he made living in Liberia difficult for Roosevelt Johnson, a key player in the Liberian conflict, to live in Liberia. Similarly Dr. Amos C. Sawyer, Hon. Conmany Wesseh, Kofi Woods, Alhaji Kromah, George Bolay and many other civic and political leaders were forced to go into exile. I am publicly advising President Boakai to learn from our recent history. The Mah people have a parable that even if you want to slaughter a cow you still need to give it water to drink. Government can do its work, such as auditing etc, but the President has a solemn responsibility to keep the nation united, reconciled, peaceful, calm and to rally the support of everyone in his effort to lead the country to progress and prosperity.
Salary Disparities and Neglect of Civil Servants
There is a significant salary disparity between the high-ups in the three branches of government and our civil servants, particularly teachers, healthcare workers, and law enforcement officers. This administration has failed to address this issue, leaving many of our essential workers in financial distress. While there has been no increase in the budget for civil servants, the wage gaps between officials and civil servants remain wide and unjust. In fact many civil servants voted for President Boakai because they had the hope that he would reverse the harmonization of their salaries. They are now disappointed. In order to stimulate public trust in his leadership on the issue of salary disparity, President Boakai, recently announced that he has reduced his salary by 40%. This sounded good. However, he did not tell us his take home pay. Similarly, President George Weah told us that he reduced his salary by 25%. But he did not tell us his take home pay. A percentage is meaningless unless the whole number is known. By behaving similar to President Weah on the salary issue, President Boakai is engaging in business as usual!
Failure to Eliminate Graduation Fees
Graduation fees continue to burden our parents. Public schools, including the University of Liberia, are charging hundreds of dollars for graduation events. In many African countries, such as Kenya and Ghana, public schools do not charge these exorbitant fees. Why should Liberians be made to suffer in this way? I did not pay graduation fee in both private and public schools, including the University of Liberia. President Boakai did not pay graduation fee at CWA and the University of Liberia. This one day fee is imposing unnecessary hardship on parents, guardians and sponsors of students in this period of extreme poverty in Liberia. I call upon the government to eliminate graduation fees in both government and private schools!
Neglecting Liberia’s Traditional Allies
The Boakai administration has failed to strengthen relationships with Liberia’s traditional allies. Our relationship with the United States, Britain, Germany, and France has seen no substantial progress. These are nations that have stood by us during our toughest times, and their support is critical to our development. Why we consider the importance of new and other viable relationships, we should not appear as a nation to neglect or downplay our historic relationships in any form, shape or manner.
Foreign Trips and its financial implications.
The unnecessary large delegations, such as the recent trip to China, only point to the government’s wasteful spending of scarce resources. It is difficult for me to understand why all the information actors, including the information Minister, Press Secretary and Director General of LBS. I also do not believe it to be true that the Minister of state for Presidential Affairs and a Minister of State without Portfolio on the trip to China. These are things that have not happened before in this country. It did not happen under military rule or any of the transitional governments or Taylor, Johnson Sirleaf or Weah. What is going on? These are the kinds of situations that made my Comrade Dusty Wolokolie to give a speech in 1984 with title “Strange things are happening” under Samuel Doe.
Investigations of mysterious Deaths
There are mysterious deaths that happened that the people are still concerned about. I call upon the President to set up a special commission of inquiry of retired police officers who were not connected to the investigations of those deaths. Government should offer incentives for information that may lead to the truth of these deaths, with a witness protection program for the informants.I am speaking about Harry Greaves, Allison, Princess Cooper, Nysuah and the other auditors, Chaloe Musu and others.
Security lapses
Government should avoid security lapses. I was very surprised to hear that during the recent violence that occurred at the CDC headquarters, that while the President was out of the country, the Vice President, the Minister of Justice and the Police Inspector General were also out of the country. In the case of the Minister he was attending a very important meeting of the Peace Building Commission of the United Nations, that he could not miss.There is a need for coordination to avoid a repeat of this kind of situation.
Conclusion
Ladies and gentlemen, a better Liberia is possible with people’s oriented policies and leadership. We need a leadership that is inclusive, that takes the rule of law seriously, that fights wicorruption with vigor, and that places the interests of the Liberian people above all else. As I have often said government is a place to serve, not to steal.The Boakai administration must take heed of these missteps and correct them, or we risk continuing down a path that further marginalizes the people of Liberia. As one of the political leaders that called on my supporters in Liberia and around the world to support the election of Mr. Joseph Nyema Boakai as president, I have a moral obligation to speak to him truthfully about his positive steps and missteps. I call upon fellow Liberians who supported Boakai to tell him that what was wrong yesterday is wrong today. We must not make excuses for missteps. We must put the interest of Liberia above partisan or any other relational interest.
Thank you.
