By Bill W. Cooper
InfoQuest Liberia has expressed profound dismay and growing alarm over the current state of affairs in the country mainly under the administration of President Joseph Boakai.
Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, the Acting Executive Director of InfoQuest Liberia, Ezekiel Allen, said ten months into President Boakai’s tenure.
InfoQuest has observed a stark disparity between campaign promises and tangible actions which has become increasingly apparent thus casting a long shadow over the future of the Liberian governance.
Allen told journalists that the administration, which rode to power on a platform of anti-corruption, fiscal responsibility, and a departure from “business as usual,” has thus far failed to demonstrate the decisive leadership and transformative governance that Liberians were promised and rightfully deserve.
On the contrary, InfoQuest’s boss sees what he describes as a troubling pattern of behavior that has emerged, characterized by alleged lack of transparency, and mounting allegations of corruption at the highest levels of government.
He used the occasion to unequivocally call upon President Boakai to take immediate and decisive action to rectify these issues and restore faith in his administration’s commitment to good governance.
“This must include implementing and enforcing a stringent asset declaration policy for all government officials, launching thorough and independent investigations into all allegations of corruption and ethical breaches, publishing all commissioned reports in full to ensure transparency and public access to information, taking swift and visible disciplinary action against officials found to have engaged in misconduct, and implementing strict guidelines on governmental travel and expenditure to curb wasteful spending”, he re-emphasized.
According to him, the time for platitude and empty promises has long since passed. Liberia, he stressed, stands at a critical juncture, and the actions or inactions of the current administration will determine whether the country progresses towards a future of accountability and good governance or regresses into a morass of corruption and mismanagement.
InfoQuest reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to holding the government accountable and advocating for the rights and interests of all Liberians.
“We also call upon all citizens, civil society organizations, and international partners to join us in demanding better from our elected leaders. The future of Liberia hangs in the balance, and it is incumbent upon all of us to ensure that the promise of good governance is not squandered. Liberia deserves and must demand concrete action and genuine reform,” he reechoed.
The acting boss of InfoQuest further indicated that the path forward must be paved with integrity, transparency, and an unwavering commitment to the welfare of the Liberian people.
He pointed out that President Boakai’s ten international trips within his first ten months in office raise serious questions about priorities and the judicious use of state resources, particularly in a country grappling with significant economic challenges.
“This frequent absence from the country not only incurs substantial costs but also raises doubts about the President’s commitment to addressing pressing domestic issues. Compounding these concerns is the brazen refusal of government officials to declare their assets, a basic tenet of a transparent government which President Boakai promised the Liberian people”, he said.
He pointed out further that such incident, coupled with the purchase of a $96,000 vehicle for the commerce minister (leading to his resignation), exemplifies the very waste of public resources and ethical lapses that the administration vowed to eliminate.
“These actions not only squander limited public funds but also send a message that personal comfort and luxury take precedence over the needs of the Liberian people”, he noted.
