MONROVIA – The former President of the Liberia Council of Churches (LCC) Bishop Kortu K. Brown has named bigotry, high level of division amongst Liberians and the snail-pace of the formation of a government comprising mostly of officials from political parties as issues that characterized the first 100 days in office of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
By Obediah Johnson
Bishop Brown said the peaceful conduct of the 2023 elections, acceptance of the results and concession to defeat by political parties give Liberia a “big boost” to the outside world.
However, he added, that the democratic transition which brought President Boakai to power marks a new transition and era for Liberia and its citizens, but the government is challenged barely three months in power.
He made these assertions in an exclusive interview with FrontPage Africa at his offices in Brewerville, outside Monrovia recently.
“We can’t say that we expect the government to do what it says it will do in just three months. We know that the first three months is not three or six years. But the first three months is an indication of which way the government could be going based on where it is now and what it wants to do and how it does it. So far, the performance of the government has been challenging.”
Bishop Brown pointed out that President Boakai has been making too many mistakes in the appointment of his public officials to guarantee the full functionality of his government.
He attributed the mistakes and delay in the formation of the government to the clustered nature of the UP which was supported by scores of other political parties during the elections.
“The experience from the organization of the inauguration was not good. The appointments saga-the ways it has been going like add and drop and then the functionality or cohesion of the government, are challenges this government faces.”
“But I believe they can overcome; the government should rise up and overcome these immediate challenges. We should have hope first in God and the fact that Boakai is a President who has worked all those years in government and has the requisite experience and exposure to be able to ensure that Liberia is first stabilized.”
Who’s in charge?
Bishop Brown said the multiple mistakes being made by the government continues to raise concerns over “who’s in charge” of steering the affairs of the country.
He said President Boakai was elected as head of the country and as such, he must take charge.
He noted that though the Liberian leader is experienced, he must realize that he would be held accountable for missteps under his administration.
Bishop Brown wondered why the UP government, which had more time to plan before inauguration, would continue to make mistakes, especially in the appointment of its officials.
“Weah election was pushed to almost the end of the year and Boakai election was in November. Weah had a shorter time for inauguration and Boakai had a longer time. You can give Weah a pass for the formation of his government. It was done more orderly. But Boakai has a challenge in forming his government. There is also a challenge in paying salaries. But when Weah took over, they started to pay salaries.”
Bishop Brown emphasized that the historical records of the Liberian Chief Executive would be tainted if he fails to diligently execute his constitutional powers efficiently and effectively.
Reconciliation
He observed that President Boakai slightly won the 2023 elections over his predecessor George Manneh Weah. This, he added, clearly shows that the country is heavily divided.
According to him, not much has been done by the government to reconcile the country.
“The elections were fought closely and the results show that there wasn’t much difference in the votes. It indicates that the country is divided and it is on this government to ensure that it makes some efforts to put this country together.”
“President Boakai should find a way to move to the center of all the politics to be able to ensure that we can enhance national cohesion because, the country is divided.”
Bishop Brown named intense engagements, information sharing and provision of clarities on national issues as some of the ways to help reconcile the country.
He maintained that UP government would continue to experience challenges if it fails to intensify the fight against corruption, accountability, and good governance.
Bigotry
He claimed that “bigotry” is being developed among some of those in higher offices in government.
Bishop Brown said government officials should avoid “bigotry” and reach out to others as part of efforts to promote reconciliation.
“Two big heart persons can’t stay together. The government was elected to serve the people. We have to avoid bigotry. People come into government with big heart and because they are in positions, they don’t want to reach out to people. No, we don’t run government that way. No one group can move Liberia forward.”
He attributed the entrenched challenges faced by the current administration to “weakness,” and officials being too obsessed with political, tribal and family ties.
“There is a form of bigotry that is developing (in the government) that we need to address. People need to humble themselves and engage. Another reason the government is having challenges is because more than one party came together to form the UP Alliance.”
One-sided inclusion
Bishop Brown pointed out that inclusion in the Boakai led-government is one-sided.
He added that officials are being appointed in government mainly from the UP Alliance.
“A government of inclusion should be based on what the constitution requires that every Liberian should have an opportunity to work. This country doesn’t just require a political party to lift it up. It requires all Liberians.”
He stressed that government should go beyond party, tribal and ideological lines and incorporate competent and qualified Liberians in public service.
Bishop Brown observed that many of those being appointed in government are “job seekers.”
According to him, “job seekers” from the ruling party should not be prioritized over “nation builders” in the formation of the government.
“Liberia needs nation builders. Most of the people we appoint to these public offices are just job seekers and they too are seeking jobs for their people too. We need people who have the capacity, capability and experience. We know them and we can go out and find them.”
As a result of this, Bishop Brown added that people continue to scramble, murmur and groan for jobs in the UP government.
Bishop Brown maintained that Liberia will continue to experience challenges and the lack of basic necessities in all sectors if job seekers continue to be appointed in government over nation builders who are competent, committed and qualified.
Hike in prices
“Right now, the prices are not so stable. That is a concern. They need to stabilize the prices.”
He said government should not just make mere pronouncement on drop in the prices of basic commodities on the local market.
Bishop Brown stressed the need for authorities of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to identify the challenges and empower their monitors on the field to make sure that pronouncement of price reduction commensurate with what is unfolding outside.
He noted that government should consistently engage the various stakeholders, especially small and medium business entrepreneurs, instead of only the big shots to address the issue of price stabilization.
He, however, proposed the holding of an Economic Recovery Conference for Liberia that would bring together all stakeholders, including international and local financial experts, to address economic challenges confronting Liberia and its citizens.
Bishop Brown further called for the establishment of a “national structure” to tackle growing wave of poverty among Liberians.
He suggested that the structure should be named the Commission for the Eradication of Poverty (COPE) to revisit the various development plans from past governments and formulate a clear program or strategy towards alleviating poverty.
He said the workings of the commission should be void of politics, with members drawn from various sectors including civil society and religious communities.
“The Ministry of Finance that is already occupied with lots of financial transactions should not be the one to drive poverty reduction strategy. We need a separate structure just to focus on that. This country has more than 70% of people that live on less than US$1 per day. That’s a crisis. This (plan to tackle poverty) should be a non-political action so that government after government can use that program.”
Gains
He named the sustenance of peace and stability, formation of a 100-day development plan, appointments of a “few good people” in government, foreign engagements, and efforts being applied towards ensuring justice for victims of the civil wars in Liberia as significant gains made by the Boakai led-government in less than three months.
Already, members of the 55th National Legislature have passed a resolution to establish a war and economic crimes court in Liberia and the Liberian leader has issued an Executive Order.
Bishop Brown said the court would help address national reconciliation and bring a closure to the Liberian civil crisis.
He proposed the formation of a clear national framework to address the issues of reparation for victims, healing process, accountability for the destruction of lives, reconciliation, and memorialization.
He added that those who lost their lives as a result of the civil conflict should be memorialized and a monument constructed to serve as a reminder to Liberians about the negative effect of war.
Assets recovery
Bishop Brown termed as “good” the concept of the assets recovery program of the government, describing corruption as a major problem strangulating growth and development in Liberia.
He called for a holistic approach towards the implementation of government’s assets recovery plan to avoid witch-hunting a particular group of people.
“There are concerns from which period the assets recovery should start from. I don’t think the assets recovery should just focus from the beginning and after the George Weah period.”
Bishop Brown further observed that many of those on the assets recovery team have political alignment with the Unity Party (UP) or hold issues against some public officials in the past government.
He recommended the restructuring of the team to comprise of statesmen who are “apolitical” and their credibility cannot be compromised.
“For example, the Chair of the Assets Recovery team was in a big beef with the Weah administration. There are serious challenges there. It shouldn’t just be from Weah time; even from Ellen time or the time before Ellen. We should be serious about this and go beyond political party lines.”
Incomplete
Bishop Brown said three months is not a sufficient time to give a “high-failure grade or passing mark to any government.”
However, he graded the UP led-government as “incomplete.”
“The government must put its act together. The government grade is incomplete because, the 100 days deliverables is not completed yet.”
He indicated that the Boakai led-administration has “potentials and needs to build on that.”
“This government has the good will of the Liberian people and the International Community. It has to be stable and bold to do what it wants to do.”
Bishop Brown added that Liberia’s traditional partners are willing to support the government depending on the manner and form in which it would move forward in steering the affairs of the country.
He said those partners would come to the aid of Liberia and its citizens if the government continues to promote their shared values including upholding the rule of law, good governance, accountability, fiscal discipline and audit, reconciliation, and preserving the extractives industry, amongst others.
“I see prospects for Liberia and I have faith in President Boakai. I believe that he will not let us down because he knows what poverty is and where he came from to be where he is. I believe that he carries the torch in his heart about the condition of ordinary Liberians and he should not let that to go off. (President) Joe Boakai is a good man; but to be President, you need more than just being good. You need to act on your words.”