Monrovia – President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s administration is ending its second term after over 10 years of leading a country ravaged by civil conflict.
Report by Alpha Daffae Senkpeni, [email protected]
With International Backing amid Multiple Challenges, Is President Sirleaf Savaging Legacy with Final Development Projects?
“The use of the airport is for privilege people – people who can afford to fly, so our emphasis was on the school first, and the hospital first before taking money for airport.
In the rural areas, we put emphasis there first, but we also know that we have to do the airport before this administration closes” – President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
Expectations were massive back in 2005 when she was inducted as Africa’s first female head of state with many optimistic about her international pedigree.
The international connection was Sirleaf’s tramp card when she went up against football legend George Manneh Weah in the second round of the 2005 election.
Sirleaf has since enjoyed the confidence of her international partners and friendly governments, reaping millions of dollars in support, the waiver of a US$ 4.9 billion hefty debt her administration inherited.
Debt relief under the Enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative from all Liberia’s creditors was estimated at US$ 2.7 billion in end-June 2007 present value terms, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The debt relief from the IMF was over US$730 million—the IMF biggest ever HIPC contribution for a single country—and from the World Bank’s IDA, the debt was US$374 million.
“Liberia has reached a historic milestone: a comprehensive debt-reduction package that writes off more than 90 per cent of its foreign debt and opens up new opportunities to rebuild the country,” wrote former Finance Minister, Antoinette Sayeh, back in 2010.
At the time, then Finance Minister Augustine Ngafuan, who led the HIPC completion point, warned that the country would not benefit any loan beyond US$40M.
Reaching the HIPC criteria, the Sirleaf’s administration gained more fame amongst Liberians on the ground and probably prepared the way for her re-election in 2011.
That debt cancellation also renewed the hopes of Liberians – home and broad – that the country economy was set to blossom, but the government has faced condemnation over the past few years for increasing the country’s debt, especially as her administration fades out.
Sirleaf’s international political prowess has earned her many accolades including the prestigious Noble Peace Prize and a recent regional preferment as Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Throughout her administration she won other accolades such as the U.S. Presidential Medal Award and being named the Most Power Woman in the World.
And her ability to maintain firm diplomatic ties with both the United States and its competitor – the People’s Republic of China – referenced her as an apt diplomatic figure.
Despite her international feats and gains on home soil, an indolent fight against corruption, a shrinking economy, struggling health sector, “messy” educational system, poor infrastructure in most parts of rural Liberia, have made her struggle for popularity amongst ordinary Liberians, who now are pondering the next leader of the continent’s oldest republic.
Ahead of the 2017 elections, political pundits say Ellen’s Unity Party may struggle to retain the presidency due to what they term as failure to improve the living condition of ordinary Liberians.
Rekindling Fame
The recent signing of a US$50M agreement with the Chinese Exim Bank to build a modern Roberts International Airport and the start of the much acclaimed US$60M ministerial complex in Congo Town are moves expected to improve Sirleaf’s rating in the coming months.
The Chinese intervention at the latter stage of her regime will remain a milestone once the aforementioned projects kick off and become visible to Liberians in the next couple of months to election year.
Like the hydro electrical project, the Fish Town to Harper Road in Southeastern Liberia and pending Lofa road construction, the construction of the RIA and the ministerial complex could make amends for her lapses.
Sirleaf, who appeared upbeat by the signing of the US$50 million loan pact with the Chinese Exim Bank for the construction of the terminal building at RIA, justified the delay in the modernization of the country’s major airport, which she affirmed is the first thing people see when they enter the country.
“The use of the airport is for privilege people – people who can afford to fly, so our emphasis was on the school first, and the hospital first before taking money for airport,” Sirleaf said.
“In the rural areas, we put emphasis there first, but we also know that we have to do the airport before this administration closes.”
President Sirleaf appears committed to garnering more recognition on home soil at the end of her tenure, with these ongoing projects.
Some of her supporters are confident that she may earn the highest legacy ahead of all her predecessors.
“Even those who reason are political will normally refuse to acknowledge that the country is making progress, will need to think twice,” said Presidential Press Secretary Jerolinmek Piah.
Piah, responding to questions from a radio talk show host on state broadcaster (ELBC), said opposition politicians must hail President Sirleaf for setting the development and improving economic pace for the next government.
“If the government does so much and you are in opposition and if you were to ascend, in my mind it makes the work easy for you, because you would had have a solid foundation to stand on,” Piah said.
Minister of Finance Development Planning Boimah Kamara, too, says the construction of the terminal will be a tangible change, because the airport is important for economic growth including the increase capacity for more flights into the country.
“This work will enhance our economic growth. The coming in of this airport will increase the traffic and capacity for more flights,” Kamara said.
Piah’s comments will obviously sparked contrary views from oppositions who are critical about Sirleaf’s performance.
“The greatest threat to national security is the underfunding of the Police that has made it a vehicle to be exploited by criminals and criminal elements.”
“When people go to bed and have no security, that’s the greatest threat.”
“So it’s the action of policy makers that’s causing the threat, and not those who talk about it,” said opposition Politician Simeon Freeman in February 2016.
Limited Time for Projects
Completing these projects in the next 14 months is improbable, an expert engineer said.
The engineer, who has asked for anonymity, said the Sirleaf administration has limited time to end most the pending projects.
“Assuming that you put in US$4.2M worth of work in place per month and you look at 24 hours of work in place – can you actually put that kind of work hours without compromising the integrity of the project,” the engineer said of the ministerial complex project.
Experts say projects like the RIA and ministerial complex would only be completed in three years, which means it would take the next government to complete these projects.
But there have always been concerns about new government altering projects and plans initiated by their predecessor, something that would hamper the legacy of Africa’s first female President.