Africa-Press – Liberia. Honorable J. Fonati KOFFA, Speaker of the 55th National Legislature
Members of the National Legislature
International Development Partners
Members of the National Opposition Community
Members of the Press
Our Fellow Liberians
Today, the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), for the first time in its history as a political party, is delivering a speech in response to the State of the Nation Address delivered by a Liberian President. Yesterday, President Joseph N. Boikai delivered his second State of the Nation’s Address, and this is our official response. We choose to speak directly this time to the Liberian people because of the grave instability and uncertainty that now hang over our democracy and economy. Our nation is in crisis. The state of the nation is weak, divided and polarized, and this was evident yesterday, when about eight Senators, more than 25 representatives, and the entire Supreme Court bench boycotted President Boakai’s SONA. This is deeply troubling.
Liberia is in decline. The democratic and economic gains we made in the last six years are being eroded. We now see the Unity Party trapped in the very lies they sold the Liberian people to get elected. There is too much confusion and disunity in the land. All of these require a spoken response that expresses the raw emotions and feelings of our people during these turbulent times.
Our fellow Liberians, our distinguished international development partners, in November of 2023, President George Manneh Weah conceded political power to President-elect Joseph N. Boakai. This concession was made several days before the National Elections Commission completed the announcement of election results. In conceding to President-elect Boakai, President Weah demonstrated an act of supreme patriotism. He broke ranks with Liberia’s bitter past of contested elections, which were often marred by violence and Supreme Court challenges. He signaled the dawn of a new day in Liberian peace and democracy. Where before others believed that our democracy was weak and fragile, President Weah showed that Liberia too was capable of democratic and electoral strength we see in advanced democracies such as the United States, Britain or Germany. President Weah handed President Boakai a peaceful country and democracy, a Liberia in which the rule of law was respected, in which no president, legislator, or justice was above the law.
One year after this most peaceful democratic transfer of political power, Liberia now lies in a democratic and rule of law mess. The Unity Party administration of President Boakai is now teaching the Liberian people that the rule of law has no meaning or no value; that the law is whatever the President and his legislative friends say the law is; that only ordinary common Liberians are supposed to respect and uphold the law while the Unity Party bigshots disregard, disrespect and violate our laws.
Our fellow citizens, because the rule of law is so important to the working of any society—to how citizens’ rights to justice, healthcare, or education are nourished and protected; and to how foreigners and investors perceive the role the law plays in protecting their investments—the Unity Party’s destruction of the rule of law has now affected every aspect of Liberian social and political life since President George M. Weah left office.
Today, citizens are confused as to where the country is headed under Joseph Boakai. Today, citizens are beaten and wounded if they dare to get into the streets to exercise their constitutional rights to free speech and assembly. Today, whatever the Supreme Court says is no longer the law. Today, opposition personalities and former government officials are being witch-hunted and unjustly imprisoned. Today, the country has both a constitutionally elected speaker and a quote-unquote majority block Speaker who was illegally selected. Despite these violations, the Executive has imposed this illegally selected Speaker upon the Government and people of Liberia, while at the same time seeking the resignation of the duly elected Speaker. What a mockery of democracy and the rule of law!
Was this conflict necessary? Did we have to push this crisis to this extent? We say no. It has been four months since this conflict erupted and there has been a total breakdown of the rule of law. Instead of focusing on placing volunteer teachers and health workers on the Government payroll; instead of working to increase budgetary allocations to key sectors of our economy; instead of working to bring down high prices affecting our people, the Unity Party Government has invested its effort in prolonging a legislative crisis that is destroying our country.
How did Liberians get into this big political mess?
Of course, we got here because the Unity Party packaged a massive bundle of lies and sold those lies to the Liberian people. They lied that harmonization was bad and upon taking office they would have reversed it immediately; that the CDC was the importer of drugs in the Country and they would have solved the drug problems in six months; they said that no car was going to get stuck in the mud in the first 100 days of the Boakai administration; they promised Liberians never to use private jet for presidential travels; they promised to bring down the prices of basic commodities in one year; and of course, they said they were going to bring down the US dollar- Liberian dollar exchange rate down to its lowest.
As if this was not enough during the campaign, President Boakai repeated many of these promises in his first State of the Nation address.
One year after falsely raising the hopes of the Liberian people, the reality has now set in for the Unity Party.
The economic reality we present above shows that the “country is hard,” that the “Rescue Mission has now become the Excuse Mission,” and that Liberians should prepare for the worst economic situation in 2025.
We then set out to work to produce a strong economic foundation for the Unity Party to inherit. We want to commend President Boakai for acknowledging in his speech yesterday that his government is building on the foundation laid by the Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD) under president George Manneh Weah. Today, we summarize the foundation that President Boakai referenced in his speech yesterday:
In contrast, the Unity Party inherited a stable and growing economy but has squandered this opportunity. Of course, Liberians now understand that ‘squandering opportunity’ is a specialized skill of the Unity Party. During year one of the UP administration, we have seen:
Poor Budget Execution and Management.
Our fellow citizens, the Unity Party Government’s mismanagement of the national budget has resulted in severe inequities in resource allocation. While senior government officials enjoy exorbitant allowances and benefits, Liberia’s healthcare, agriculture and educational systems remain critically underfunded. When the data finally comes in, we will see that budget execution for 2024 has been a disaster. Critical entities at the frontline of service delivery, especially in health and education, receiving as low as 50 percent of their budgetary allocation.
The nation’s 23 public referral hospitals, which serve over 5.2 million citizens, lack essential medical supplies and critical services, and have unpaid health workers. This stark disparity in resource distribution reflects a government disconnected from the realities of its people.
For the Unity Party, budget execution is about personal benefits and allowances. The UP uses the budget to ensure Government officials receive large amounts of gas coupons, scratch cards, and other benefits. Under the CDC, these benefits were cut to make room for spending that impacted the mass of Liberians who do not work for the Government.
The Parade of Investment Deception
The year 2024 saw no new foreign direct investment and no serious effort to resolve business climate challenges that can boost both local and foreign investment. Instead, we saw ‘investment by showmanship,’ publicly packaged misinformation deceiving Liberians into believing that their Government is bringing investment into the country.
The real challenge Liberia faces is to continue to work to change our business and investment climate. Investments require serious work that inspires confidence. Investments do not flourish in environments where the rule of law is being violated and where the opinion of the Supreme Court is discarded on the whim of politicians. Investment is not showmanship, the attempt to impress Liberians that the President has external relations and is about to bring investments because of his personality.’ We have seen a parade of deceptive announcements that were supposed to impress Liberians that the Unity Party was about the solve the country’s investment challenge. These were all deceptive.
The Mirage of the HPX Deal
First, there is the HPX ‘investment deal.’ Earlier in the year, on February 20, 2024 the government announced an ambitious partnership with HPX and Guma Africa Group, promising an investment of $3 billion to $5 billion to develop the Liberty Corridor. This investment is still hanging, and we are yet to see this materialize.
The Yellow Machine Procurement Saga
Then came the yellow machine brouhaha. Back in July, Monrovia witnessed a spectacle of its own. On July 15, a convoy paraded promising 285 earth-moving machines and dump trucks, heralded as the first tangible proof of the administration’s ARREST Agenda. Crowds cheered as the sample of the 285 yellow machines was paraded to a military barracks, a supposed display of progress.
But as the fanfare subsided, the truth emerged. There was no signed contract, no formal agreement, and no financial commitment. When pressed, the President offered only a vague explanation, attributing the initiative to a casual conversation with an unnamed “friend.” The parade was a mirage, a spectacle designed to mislead.
This was a serious violation of our procurement laws and the people’s trust, riddled with corruption. The machines were valued at US$80 million but we now know that the real value is around US$20 million. The President was misled. The remaining US$60 million were kickbacks for officials of Government.
Another Hollow Promise: The Great Bus Deception
On June 24, 2024, the Boakai administration put on yet another show, claiming to have found the solution to Liberia’s transportation crisis. They proudly paraded two buses, billed as samples from the Brazilian manufacturer “Marcopolo,” with promises that 300 more would follow in just 40 days.
This whole bus saga was Vlah” as we say here in Liberia.
The China Charade
Then the China charade was to follow. September brought another round of grand proclamations. Upon returning from the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, the Unity Party Government announced a $3 billion memorandum for an oil refinery in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County.
Once again, the truth fell far short of the rhetoric. The grants, valued at 200 million RMB, were roughly US$28 million in U.S. dollars. The debt waiver was a mere US$900,000, and even the food assistance package, initially celebrated as US$30 million, was less than US$5 million. Instead of celebrating modest gains, the administration inflated figures to craft a narrative of triumph.
The MCC Compact Rebuff
Lastly comes the MCC Compact announcement. On December 19, 2024, Liberians awoke to what seemed to be an extraordinary announcement. Social media buzzed with celebratory posts: the government claimed to have secured a $500 million grant from the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). For a country grappling with economic challenges, this was presented as a watershed moment, a sign of Liberia’s bright future under President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s leadership.
By afternoon, the jubilation turned into confusion. The MCC released a statement, calmly dismantling the government’s claim. There was no grant, no $500 million, and no MCC compact funding. That eligibility does not guarantee a Compact as the government propagated. What Liberia had witnessed was yet another act in the administration’s theater of deception, a desperate attempt to distract from its lackluster governance and dwindling credibility.
This was no isolated incident. Within the first year of governance, the UP administration has repeatedly used misinformation as a political tool, leaving a trail of empty promises and unfulfilled dreams. They used this lying and deceptive playbook to win the election; they aimed to use it to govern the Liberian people. But they are now trapped in their own lies.
Fight Against Corruption and Accountability
Our fellow citizens, the CDC welcomes the fight against corruption but such a fight cannot be on a selective basis. The UP Government has shown no serious commitment to fighting corruption and its current fight pertains to witch-hunting former officials of the CDC administration and aiming to use the weight and influence of the Government against them where there is no basis. Currently, several cases of corruption involving the National Port Authority, the Liberia Revenue Authority, the Ministry of Public Works, the LRRRC, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Central Bank of Liberia, and the Liberia Telecommunications Authority, and the Ministry of Agriculture, involving tens of millions of US dollars remain unaddressed by the Unity Party Government.
We praise and thank the UP Government for appointing an Ombudsman to oversee compliance with the Code of Conduct but we see serious conflict and contradiction here. The same Government appointing Ombudsman is the same Government fighting the Ombudsman. What message is the UP administration sending on the code of conduct? You either agree to scrap the code of conduct or you strengthen its enforcement. You cannot both support and legally undermine the code of conduct at the same time. This is why we say your fight against corruption is insincere, partisan and unserious.
The Government’s Asset Recovery program is another example of an unserious and politically motivated path to fighting corruption. Upon taking office, the Government without regards to rule of law went about seeking to retrieve legally acquired and legitimate assets from former Government officials. These were all part of the culture of ‘parade’ and ‘showmanship’ that this Unity Party administration is well noted for. Today, the Unity Party Asset Recovery has failed as was expected and the team itself has been battling allegations of corruption in the use of resources assigned to it.
The Dangers of Misinformation
While undermining the rule of law, the UP aimed to use misinformation and propaganda to mislead the Liberian people and this is dangerous for our democracy. We publicly warn the UP Government to desist from this pattern. Misinformation is harmful. It corrodes public trust, undermines governance, and distracts from real progress. The UP administration’s pattern of deception poses significant dangers:
1. Eroding Public Trust: When citizens can’t rely on their government for honesty, democratic participation weakens.
2. Damaging Credibility: False claims, like those surrounding the MCC and China deals, jeopardize international partnerships.
3. Widening Inequality: Policies favoring the elite deepen social and economic disparities
Fellow Liberians, Governance is not about grand announcements or carefully staged parades; it is about delivering real results for the people. The UP administration must abandon theatrics and embrace accountability. Truth is not just a virtue; it is the foundation of democracy.
For Liberia to move forward, its leaders must recognize the urgent need for transparency. The people deserve a government that works for them, not one that hides behind parades and propaganda. The question remains: will this administration rise to the occasion, or will it continue down the path of deception?
The only thing this government seems to have perfected is the art of pictorial diplomacy, a masterclass in deception, and a relentless focus on public relations at the expense of society too often taken in by their illusions. Their frustration lies not in our criticism but in our commitment to arming Liberians with the most potent weapon: truth. Through honesty, transparency, and access to information, we are empowering our fellow citizens to see through the smoke and mirrors. Democracy and governance must never be built on the shaky foundation of lies. Rest assured, we will wield every tool at our disposal to peel back the layers of deception and shine a light on their falsehoods.
Under the Unity Party administration, we do not see any progress in the nation’s health, education, and agriculture challenges. Health workers have threatened to strike because the basic salary structure agreed with the CDC administration has been denied them by the UP administration. Volunteer health workers and teachers have not been added to the Government Payroll. The legislature appropriated US$2.4 million to resolve some of these issues but the UP Government misused the appropriation for something else, leaving workers still working on a volunteer basis.
The CDC administration has done a lot for teachers and health workers. It’s time for the Unity Party to address their issues as well and stop making empty campaign promises. The US$15 million that is supposed to increase salary is questionable since the compensation numbers are not adding up.
And Mr. President we must remind you that agriculture is your specific expertise, and we expect you to deliver in this area. We have seen no movement in the agriculture space.
Infrastructure: Roads and Electricity
The Government is yet to show any serious leadership in the country’s infrastructure sector. Liberia’s infrastructure will remain under the influence of the PAPD for years to come because we have laid a solid foundation. Most financing for road and electricity projects were secure by the CDC administration.
We expect the UP administration to break new grounds in roads and electricity where financings were not secured, not just build on the foundation that CDC laid.
Reconciliation
Fellow Liberians, although we agree that rescue missions have failed in addressing the economic well-being of Liberia, the biggest failure has been seen in the area of reconciliation and national unity. This biggest failure was shown by the absence of honorable representatives, Senators, and Supreme Court justices at yesterday’s national event which usually brings all Liberians together. It is all because of the current legislative crisis
The division is hurting our country but the President is yet to recognize this national cancer that is eating the Social fabric of our country. Though the country is hard, and the Rescue mission has lost its direction, unity can be a therapy for national healing to keep us all together to fight our national challenges. With a reconciled country, we can fight poverty, we can collectively fight the drug crisis, and we can collectively strengthen the rule of law and save our country. Fellow Liberians, Liberia is not for the CDC, not for the Unity Party, the Liberty Party, the ANC, or any other political party. Liberia is not for the any particular tribe, region or religion. Liberia is for all Liberians irrespective of tribe, party, or status and we expect our President to take charge and bring us all together.
Bringing us together does not mean we will support the same cause, party or issue. It means we will uphold strong moral principles and values surrounding the rule of law and national integrity as we move our country forward. President Boakai, take charge, Liberia is bleeding.
To this effect, we call on the President to call for a national dialogue on reconciliation and unity, asking the president to reach out to former national leaders, all political parties, religious leaders, and the international community to ensure inclusiveness for national healing.
Conclusion
In closing, we stand resolute in our assertion that 2024 will be remembered as the year of “Squandered Opportunities” under President Boakai’s leadership. This year has been marked by a staggering betrayal of the principles of democracy and justice, leaving our nation in a state of disarray. The flagrant violation of the rule of law is not just an oversight; it is a deliberate assault on the very fabric of our governance. The attempt to illegally remove the duly elected Speaker of the House of Representatives is a chilling example of how far this administration is willing to go to consolidate power, disregarding the voices of the people in the process.
The UP’s false investment promises in year one has transformed into a national disgrace, exposing the administration’s utter disregard for accountability and transparency. Instead of serving the interests of the Liberian people, this government has prioritized personal ambition and political gain, all while corruption runs rampant. The increase in corrupt practices continues to drain our resources, leaving countless Liberians grappling with poverty and despair. This is not merely a failure of governance; it is a betrayal of the hopes and aspirations of our citizens.
The Boakia administration has proven time and again that it is incapable of improving the lives of the very people it was elected to serve. We refuse to accept a future defined by unfulfilled promises and systemic negligence. This administration must be held accountable for its actions and inactions. It is time for Mr. Boakai and his UP Government to listen—to the cries of the people, to the demands for justice, and to the urgent need for change.
We demand immediate action to rectify these egregious wrongs. The time for half-measures and empty rhetoric is over. We call for a comprehensive plan to restore the rule of law, to reinstate democratic principles, and to eradicate corruption at every level of government. The current trajectory is unsustainable, and this administration must pivot swiftly and decisively towards a path that prioritizes the welfare of all Liberians.
As the leading opposition people-centered political movement, the CDC stands united with other opposition parties in our resolve to demand accountability, justice, and genuine progress. We will not be silenced or sidelined. Together, we will mobilize and rise against the apathy and misrule that have characterized this administration. The opportunities squandered in 2024 cannot be reclaimed, so Mr. Boakai is on notice.
The time for change is now. Let this be a rallying cry for all Liberians who believe in a brighter, more equitable future. We will not rest until our voices are heard, our rights are restored, and our nation is on a path towards true prosperity. Together, we will continue to fight for the survival of our country—a country that is built on justice, integrity, and the unwavering belief that every citizen deserves a chance to thrive.
May God Almighty avail in each of us the strength to unite our common patrimony and save and protect our democracy.
Thank you.
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