Liberia: President Boakai’s 2nd Annual Message Faces Harsh Criticism from Allies, Analysts, and Opposition

Monrovia – President Joseph Boakai’s second State of the Nation Address (SONA) has drawn sharp criticism from opposition political parties and former supporters, despite his efforts to highlight achievements during his first year in office.

---

By Selma Lomax, [email protected]

---

In his address on Monday, the Liberian leader outlined progress in key sectors such as the economy, infrastructure, agriculture, and education. However, his claims were met with skepticism and opposition from various political figures.

Boakai began by addressing Liberia’s economic challenges before he assumed office, noting that the economy had grown by only 4.6%, inflation had surged to 10.1%, and the country’s debt burden had escalated to $2.5 billion. 

He also highlighted the struggles faced by civil servants, particularly issues related to pay harmonization and delayed salary payments, which led to reliance on informal financial schemes.

Upon taking office, Boakai claimed decisive actions were implemented, including salary increases for health workers, police officers, and teachers. He reported that in 2024, Liberia’s economy showed resilience, with a revised GDP growth rate of 5.1%. According to the president, growth was fueled by sectors such as mining, agriculture, fisheries, and services, with international partners like the World Bank, the African Development Bank, and USAID contributing to investments in infrastructure and energy development.

“We have managed inflation prudently, reducing it to 7.7% by the end of 2024, down from 10.1% in 2023,” Boakai said. “We expect inflation to decrease further to 6.0% in 2025.”

Additionally, Boakai pointed to improvements in Liberia’s international reserves, which had risen to $458.9 million, and the appreciation of the Liberian dollar by 4.7% against the US dollar. He also noted that the Central Bank had lowered the monetary policy rate from 20% to 17%, which helped bolster confidence in the financial system and resulted in a 9.1% increase in private sector credit.

On infrastructure, Boakai highlighted several key projects, including the expansion of the Roberts International Airport (RIA) Road Project from 8 to 20 kilometers of paved road, as well as significant progress on the Sanniquellie to Logatuo and Saclepea to Tappita road projects. He also mentioned road development funded by the World Bank’s Rural Economic Transformation Project (RETRAP).

In the education sector, Boakai acknowledged the challenges his administration inherited, including $2 million in scholarship arrears, poorly qualified teachers, and inadequate infrastructure. His government allocated $1 million to clear scholarship arrears, including fees for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), and launched a $75 million foundational learning project with USAID to improve literacy and math skills for third-grade students.

In health, Boakai touted the progress made under his ARREST Agenda, reporting reductions in maternal and child mortality rates and an increase in child vaccination rates from 64.9% to 73% in 2024.

‘State of the nation is weak’

However, Boakai’s claims have been met with strong opposition from key political figures. The Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), led by former President George Weah, along with other prominent critics, including Tiawon Gongloe of the Liberian People’s Party and businessman Stanton Witherspoon, have sharply criticized the President’s address.

The CDC has described the current state of Liberia as weak, divided, and polarized, pointing to the boycott of Boakai’s SONA by more than 30 lawmakers, including eight Senators and the entire Supreme Court bench. The opposition party accused the Unity Party (UP) government of undermining the democratic and economic gains achieved under Weah’s administration.

“Today, citizens are confused about where the country is headed under Joseph Boakai,” the CDC said in a statement. “Opposition figures and former officials are being witch-hunted and unjustly imprisoned.”

The CDC also criticized the ongoing legislative crisis, in which two individuals, Fonati Koffa and Richard Koon, both claim the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives.  The CDC contended that Koon’s election was illegal and accused the executive of imposing him while calling for Koffa’s resignation.

The CDC also rejected Boakai’s financial claims, including his assertion of a $72.6 million surplus for 2024, and disputed his claims regarding the reduction of basic commodity prices, such as rice. 

The CDC noted that the price of a 25kg bag of rice had increased from LD$3,100 under Weah to LD$3,500 under Boakai’s administration.

Additionally, the CDC challenged the government’s claims of removing 6,000 “ghost workers” from the payroll, asserting that the actual number was closer to 1,000, resulting in much smaller savings than reported.

“The Unity Party has hired an additional 6,000 workers, increasing the government payroll by about $10 million,” the CDC argued, adding that Boakai’s administration had been reluctant to release accurate financial data, particularly regarding salary expenditures.

The CDC concluded by accusing the Unity Party of misleading both the public and international partners, such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), about Liberia’s fiscal health. The opposition party claimed that salary expenditures would exceed $310 million by the end of 2024, contradicting the government’s promise to cap it at $270 million.

Cllr. Gongloe Critiques Boakai

For his part, Cllr. Tiawon Gongloe, a former presidential candidate and prominent critic of Boakai’s government, criticized the president for his handling of corruption within his administration, particularly the failure to enforce asset declarations among senior government officials.

Gongloe pointed out that while Boakai had urged ministers and officials to declare their assets, there had been no real consequences for those who failed to comply, reflecting a lack of political will to address corruption.

“He is on record begging his cabinet ministers and senior officials to declare their assets,” Gongloe said. “That is the President’s weakness – the lack of political will to fight corruption. He should have given an order that if officials do not declare their assets within 24 hours, they would be removed from their positions. It’s not like we don’t have other people to fill those positions. He is really, really weak.”

Gongloe also expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of Boakai’s ARREST Agenda, particularly in its efforts to strengthen the rule of law and tackle corruption. “This ARREST Agenda has really been weak when it comes to fighting corruption,” Gongloe said.

Gongloe On the Rule of Law

Regarding the political turmoil surrounding Liberia’s legislature, Gongloe strongly criticized the selection of the “Speaker” Richard Koon of the House of Representatives. He stated that, had he been invited to attend the legislative session, he would have refused, as he does not recognize the legitimacy of the Majority Bloc.

“If I had been invited, I would not have gone because I subscribe to the fact that the Majority Bloc has no legitimacy,” Gongloe remarked. “I cannot support lawbreakers. More than 300,000 people died in this country because of the lack of respect for the rule of law, which is the root cause of bad governance.”

Gongloe further criticized Boakai for recognizing the legitimacy of the session, calling it unconstitutional. He also referenced the absence of the judiciary during previous controversial cases, such as the Snowe case, to highlight the judiciary’s consistent refusal to participate in unconstitutional actions.

While acknowledging the President’s announcement to establish a War and Economic Crimes Court, Gongloe raised concerns about Boakai’s commitment to transitional justice, particularly the appointment of Lewis Brown to represent Liberia at a global forum. Gongloe argued that this appointment undermines the President’s efforts to promote transitional justice.

“The President did well by announcing the establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court, but by sending Lewis Brown to a world forum, he undermines his efforts to promote transitional justice,” Gongloe said. “Fighting corruption requires abiding by the code of conduct, and the rule of law is a key step in that fight.”

Gongloe stressed the importance of upholding the rule of law and holding public officials accountable for their actions. He called on the government to take stronger action to combat corruption and preserve the integrity of Liberia’s legal and political systems.

Witherspoon Criticizes Boakai

Stanton Witherspoon, CEO of the Spoon Network and a former supporter of Boakai, also expressed deep disappointment with the President’s recent State of the Nation Address. 

In a candid assessment, Witherspoon suggested that Boakai might not fully understand the country’s challenges and criticized the speech for lacking substance in key areas.

“I think the President’s State of the Nation Address was a disappointment,” Witherspoon said. “It seems like people in the country have agreed to lie to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai. Maybe he’s not fully in charge.”

Witherspoon’s main criticism focused on Boakai’s announcement of a new initiative to create a “cyber youth team.” He expressed concerns about the feasibility and effectiveness of the project, questioning its timeline and potential impact.

“It’s disappointing, painful, and hurtful to hear the President talk about creating a cyber youth team,” Witherspoon remarked. “How long will it take for people to receive this cyber training? That’s not something that can be achieved in a 10-day or 10-week program. It’s truly disappointing.”