Gbarnga, Bong County – On January 22 this year the government of President George Weah celebrated its first anniversary.
Report by Selma Lomax, [email protected]
The highs and lows of Weah’s administration
Opinions and interpretations of the promise of “Change for Hope” pitched by Weah’s Coalition for Democratic Change on the campaign trail in 2017 are heard at street corners, on talk radio and various intellectual centers.
The verdicts of Liberians on the performance of Weah administration, to many, reflect the country’s diversity.
However, one year after, many Liberians living in Bong County, central Liberia, have been asking for the indicators of the “change for hope” in the economy, and more importantly, on how their living conditions and livelihoods have been positively affected.
FrontPage Africa reporter in Bong County has been interacting with members of the public about their views on President Weah’s first year in office.
James Dorbor Sao, an employee of Cuttington University in Suakoko, noted that the president has had more success in his first year.
The construction of community roads in Monrovia and other counties including the streets of Gbarnga and Buchanan in Grand Bassa County are worthy of commendations,” he said.
Sao described as “erroneous” the views expressed by a section of the public that the president is self-seeking.
Rather, his administration style had been slow, he claimed that the president preferred to accomplish more and speak less about his achievements.
Sao called on the public to join hands with the CDC government in implementing all the necessary policies to make Liberia a better place for all.
He said being a partisan in matters like this will not help the nation prosper developmentally and economically.
Philip Singbah, deputy press secretary to Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor, said the recommencement of the Gbarnga street pavement and the president’s pledge last year to complete the Bong Technical College show a great sign of recovery under the government..
“I can feel some change even though it’s little things may not be where we want them to be, but I think if this government continues working, we will get there,” he said.
“The Gbarnga street has been a major issue for citizens because it has caused traffic snarl in the city. We are grateful to the government for the recommencement the road.
While some see signs of change on the horizon, others remain skeptical.
“After Weah’s first year I can’t see the change of anything; things are changing for the worse and not the better,” said Jibah Bility, an agriculturist.
“Now that his first year is gone, are we going to start counting another year again waiting to see change, how many times will we count before the economy gets better.”
Beatrice Tellewonyan, a trader at Gbarnga market, said though she was aware of certain promises made by the president doing his campaign, she’s yet to see what has been done.
She said this was not the time for the president to feel content since there were numerous things to be done in Bong County and Liberia as a whole.
A seamstress in Gbarnga also shared the same view, saying, “everything is the same and living is still high, so I really can’t tell why we should be happy for what they called “high mark”, I want to be able to feed my children well and be able to pay for the fees with no stress”.
Dennis Garsinii, a native of Bong County based in the United States of America, said Weah’s administration has done very little to improve the livelihoods of Liberians
Garsinii said the most effective performance indicator of the Weah is the well-being of Liberians.
“We have been enslaved to poverty, hardship and illness, the bothersome aspect of the first year is the assault on free press, the insecurity in the country and the lack of accountability,” he said.
Meanwhile, a Gbarnga business man Ansu Sesay, said president Weah’s first year “presents an opportunity to take stock, build on the positive steps and achievements and also correct the mistakes it has made as well as address the governance challenges facing the country”.