By Laurina B Lormia
(Cub-Reporter) and
Precious D. Freeman
The former President of the Liberia Council of Churches (LCC), Bishop Kortu K. Brown, says President Joseph Boakai’s 100 days’ performance is challenging.
According to him, “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 are not three or six years, but the first three months are 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.”
He stated that President Boakai has been making too many mistakes in the appointment of his public officials to guarantee the full functionality of his government, attributing 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 bishop stated, “The experience from the organization of the inauguration was not good. The appointments saga-the way 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,” he said.
Bishop Brown said the multiple mistakes being made by the government continue to raise concerns over who’s in charge of steering the affairs of the country, noting 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, emphasizing, “Weah’s election was pushed to almost the end of the year and Boakai’s 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. 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.
“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. Not much has been done by the government to reconcile the country,” he noted.
Bishop Brown named intense engagements, information sharing, and provision of clarities on national issues as some of the ways to help reconcile the country, maintaining that the UP government would continue to experience challenges if it fails to intensify the fight against corruption, as well as promote accountability and good governance.
He claimed that bigotry is being developed among some of those in higher offices in government, and that the government officials should avoid bigotry and reach out to others as part of efforts to promote reconciliation.
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.”
Bishop Brown pointed out that inclusion in the Boakai led-government is one-sided, and 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 said.
He stressed that government should go beyond party, tribal, and ideological lines and incorporate competent and qualified Liberians in public service.
“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.”
However, President Joseph Boakai’s 100-day deliverables have created mixed reactions among several Liberians, particularly those from the business sector where dozens of business entrepreneurs, especially sellers at the intersection of Gurley and Carey Streets, still hold mixed views.
On Tuesday, May 7, some business owners told the Inquirer Newspaper that President Boakai delivered 50 percent of his 100-day deliverables, while others said he did nothing in his first 100 days.
Speaking about his 100-day achievements, President Boakai said in the past 100 days, despite limited resources, his government was able to make significant gains against interventions they set out in various sectors.
According to him, his administration has reduced rice importation by 70 percent, starting the quarter with the acquisition and cultivation of 2,000 hectares of land in Bong, Lofa, and Nimba Counties, and that they have taken major steps to boost agriculture as a cornerstone of economic development.
“The Government of Liberia has allotted funds for the payment of arrears for both local and international scholarship students, which include monthly allowances, resettlement assistance, air ticket cost, French language training programs, and other administrative and operational costs associated with students’ well-being,” he asserted.
“The Ministry of Public Works has been undertaking major road corridor projects totaling about 783.5 km in Bong, Lofa, Bomi, Gbarpolu, Nimba, Grand Gedeh, River Gee, Grand Bassa, Sinoe, Maryland, and Grand Kru Counties,” he narrated.
According to Titus Siakor, the President’s 100-day deliverables were good, and he lived up to his promise to the citizens, as we all can see the rehabilitation of major roads across the counties, the fight against drugs, educations, busy commodities, rule of law, and executive orders, which is a very great start.
“One thing I would like to applaud the President for in his first 100 days, is the signing of the War and Economic Crimes Court; many people have not yet felt the impact of some of the things that President Boakai is doing, but I can assure them from now to July or August, Liberians will begin to see the difference and major impacts within their country,” Siakor stressed.
On the other hand, Matthew Bundoo said Boakai is not going by his promises made to the citizens, stating, “We have not yet seen anything done by the President that he used 22 million dollars just within his first 100 days,” he expressed.
President Boakai told us that, within his first 100 days, no car will get struck in the mud, but right now, visit Grand Gedeh; there is a major road cut and a deep hole in the middle of the road that is affecting the residents of that county.
He concluded that, “The President should stop saying things to us that he knows he is not capable of doing; there is no good electricity, transportation is going up on a daily basis, rice is now 3,590. I’m sure because they are UP so that means everything must go up.”
