Africa-Press – Liberia. Joseph Nyuma Boakai became Liberia’s president on Monday, January 22, 2024, leaving some citizens hopeful for a better life and others skeptical that his government would perform better than the one he succeeded.
Thousands of Liberians, heads of government ministries and agencies, as well as dignitaries attended the swearing-in ceremony for the 79-year-old in the capital, Monrovia.
Boakai – former vice president to Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf – has promised to deliver democratic dividends to citizens in a country where widespread poverty that has left many frustrated and angry.
FrontPageAfrica examines the opinions and expectations of some Liberians for the Boakai administration.
Ebee Kollie, staff, Cuttington University: “As citizens of the Republic of Liberia, we tend to elect our leaders, especially the president, based on promises, reputation, and life decisions. If President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr. must succeed, two key areas I want to look at in his “ARREST” slogan: Education and the Rule of Law. The educational sector needs total support from the government and supervision from actors within the sector. The Liberia National Police under the stewardship of President Boakai shouldn’t be selective in dispatching her duties. Let the police be an independent body that will do her work without the interference of government officials calling themselves “big guys”. Judges should uphold the integrity of their respective offices and do the needful.”
Lloyd N. Ngwayah, opinion leader: “President Boakai to succeed? I think at most, he can do better than his immediate predecessor former President Weah. However, that’ll depend on his personal vision and political wills to transform Liberia; and how he will meet the expectations of ordinary Liberians who voted him, navigate around the mostly conflicting interests of key stakeholders of his campaign, the wants of the diaspora Liberians, and the demands of the international community.”
Morris Wrepu, Chairman Of the Unstoppable National Congress:
“The Boakai-led government will not succeed. To justify my assertion that the Boakai led Government will not succeed, few pertinent reasons are, but not limited to the following: Early power struggle. Many staunch loyalists of Unity Party who supported him now think it’s their entitlement to have any Job to their will and pleasure. However, this might not work out for them because job distribution should be based on qualification and competence in the fair allocation of job. This will be the underlying factor for early power struggle in the government which will give rise to key government officials undermining the rule of law for personal aggrandizement.
“Failure in the implementation of salaries increment as a significant part of the Rescue Mission campaign’s promise – to have an exponential increment in civil servants salaries that will not be a factor to prompt budget shortfall isn’t possible. Such decisions will require long-term understanding of the country’s fiscal budget amidst the country’s economic recovery after Liberian civil war.”
Steve Kennedy — former legislative candidate, Bong County
“From history, we’ve gotten a cue to who Boakai is and how vast he is when it comes to governance. Boakai is a man with the radical skill to lead the country, and he demonstrated this with his six years as vice president. Firstly, I expect him to perform according to his manifestos, let’s hope and we are expecting the change in the country’s terrain as he has promised — quality education, job opportunities, growth of the nation’s economy, and improving Liberia’s image in the international community. I believe he will strengthen the military, I believe he will see to the betterment of the security terrain, education, economy growth and the unifying of this country against tribal prejudice.”
Apu Flomo, entrepreneur: “I believe Boakai is going to do a very nice job especially when it has to do with infrastructure and the economy because he has always spoken about the importance of having Liberia connected through better roads. I feel he’s not going to be one who will promote tribalism because the previous regime of George Weah had most of the key positions in his government to the South East, where he hails from. So, I think he is going to do a very nice job, but that’s if he is allowed to do his job as a president and not being a ghost whereby some men whom paradventure believe they are the ones that put him in power or the ones that aided the process.
William Dolo, Intellectual: “As a country coming out of a heated political process (2023 election), I see the new administration struggling to reconcile a country filled with hate and bitterness. The country is heavily divided and expectations are high. Key areas the Boakai administration will struggle are: reconciliation, jobs creation, WASSCE and public universities fees payment, and The rule of law. Another aspect of challenge would be to maintain the gains made by Weah administration in maintaining free speech and freedom of the press as well as keeping our prisons bereft of political prisoners.
“Finally, the new administration will have to deal with the quagmire revolving around the macroeconomics situation. Raising civil servants salaries as promised and keeping inflation an appreciable level ( 11.70% as was under the Weah administration), and sustaining gains made with the wage bill reforms in keeping with the IMF and world bank policy. The new administration has a huge task and must leverage whatever means necessary to upset the tremendous gains made during the Weah administration or face the wrath of the masses. The first one hundred days will be crucial in determining the success of the new administration.”
Nukai Kpangbai, Intellectual: “In all honesty, I have no expectations from Boakai’s presidency. We don’t want an administrative government that will be filled with people who have workable theories without practice; we are looking for an administrative system that will work.”
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