By S. Siapha Mulbah
The United States of America Special Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Linda Thomas Greenfield, has informed Liberia that the Joe Biden-designated delegation to witness the inauguration of President Joseph Boakai signifies the US’s commitment to working with the Boakai administration to achieve its agenda.
The former US Ambassador to Liberia headed the US delegation to the January 22, 2024 inauguration ceremony of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and his Vice president Jeremiah Kpan Koung at the grounds of the Capitol Building in Monrovia.
Ambassador Greenfield said the decision to have the US President sending a senior-level delegation for the historical event is to reassure Liberians that they are prepared to work with their African ally diplomatically under the new administration.
Madam Greenfield observed that there are many pressing issues that the country is facing that have affected the lives of the people, for which the President was elected, and he has committed to addressing them; therefore, the US is willing to assist the Boakai-led government to improve the living conditions of the people.
The US diplomat also disclosed that since the new Liberian Chief Executive has continuously assured of his administration’s willingness to fighting corruption and other forms of anti-graft during the campaign process and up to his inauguration, the US is hopeful to see him achieve such fight and will be watching every step along the way to ensure that President Boakai delivers on his election promises.
Serving as a guest on a local radio talk-show in Monrovia, the US diplomat noted that the US is committed to working with the administration of the day to address the many issues it will be facing in the coming years as it sets its priorities.
According to her, the US did not play any political role during the entire electoral process that made the former President a one-term President, as is assumed in some political quarters, noting that the Liberian people made a choice and decided to vote for who they wanted, void of US interference.
She stressed that sanctioning people close to the former President was not in anyway intended to have political interference with the country, but to have those in violation of the laws accounting for their own violation and also ensuring that the United States Government’s stance against corruption across the world is unbending.
“We have seen for many years how corruption has held Liberia down; we see the unfinished roads, the unfinished buildings, the education system, suffering teachers not being paid, and health centers not being supported. The decision to sanction people who are involved into corruption in this country is to ensure accountability around the world,” she asserted.
She however clarified that United States-funded programs and initiatives across Liberia will not have any county blocked from its support because of top officials being sanctioned, noting, “There is no sanction that the US has imposed on any county in Liberia. Individuals are listed on the sanctions and this decision is not in any way transferred to a county, but the person that broke the US law,” the US diplomat said.
