Monrovia, Liberia – A statement from the Executive Mansion addresses what it calls “misrepresentations and deliberate distortions” of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s speech in Lofa County. The statement, which was made public on December 24, 2024, attempts to refute claims that the president approved of corruption in his remarks.
President Boakai’s speech at the 60th anniversary of Bong, Grand Gedeh, Lofa, and Nimba Counties gaining county rank was a passionate plea for accountability, moral leadership, and national unity, according to the Executive Mansion. Speaking at Voinjama, Lofa County’s Unification Park, the president reaffirmed his administration’s zero-tolerance stance against corruption and underlined the need of allocating public funds for the good of the Liberian people.
“Contrary to recent claims, President Boakai’s remarks were a clear denunciation of corruption and a call for integrity in public service and judicious use of public resources,” the statement adds.
The statement highlighted the president’s dedication to openness and accountability by listing a number of anti-corruption programs the Boakai government has started this year:
To resolve financial anomalies and guarantee accountability, audits were commissioned in February 2024 for key government agencies, such as the Executive Protection Service, the National Security Agency, and the Central Bank of Liberia.
Jolue Aloysius Tarlue, the governor of the Central Bank, was suspended in July 2024 due to excessive expenditure and unapproved loans. In a similar vein, the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) suspended key officials of the Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC) in October 2024 as they looked into financial irregularities.
President Boakai cautioned recently appointed officials against corruption in August 2024, stressing that any who do so will suffer severe repercussions.
Using the occasion to push for ethical government nationwide, the President proclaimed December 9, 2024, International Anti-Corruption Day.
Anderson Miamen, the Executive Director of the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL), argues that the President’s comments, whether correctly or incorrectly, underscore the need for more forceful and coherent anti-corruption messaging notwithstanding the explanation. The administration has been urged by activists to take decisive steps to restore public confidence and guarantee accountability.
Since the president hasn’t done anything to combat corruption, Miamen stated that the only way to restore public confidence is for him to take decisive action. “That statement was disheartening and undercuts the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission’s and other anti-corruption organizations’ efforts to combat corruption.”
The president’s remark and the most recent explanation of the domestic situation have also drawn criticism from many on social media. Government supporters have also defended the president’s speech on social media, with some officials interpreting the contentious comments using ChatGPT.
Given Liberia’s ongoing battle with entrenched corruption, the debate emphasizes how crucial ethical government is. Many Liberians are increasingly unsure of President Boakai’s administration’s commitment to tackling this problem and promoting good governance, despite the administration’s repeated pledges to this end.
