Weah Rules Out Dialogue With Protesters

President George Weah has made it unequivocal that he is not prepared to dialogue with some Liberians under the banner “ Council of Patriots” calling for mass and sustained protest to demand him to step-down on December 30, 2019. A Group headed by talk-show host, Henry Pedro Costa, a fierce critic of the CDC-Led government staged the famous June 7 protest and, the July 26 protest, and has again, threatened third protest this time under the rug “ Weah Step-Down “ slated December 30 despite government’s refusal to issue permit.
In what appeared to be a harsh retort to the protesters, President Weah asserted that it is the inseparable rights of every citizens to peacefully assemble but he will not yield to any ‘Weah step down campaign’ admonishing political adversaries to use the ballot box in 2023.
The Liberian leader made the assertions on Friday, December 20, 2019, when he mustered the courage to address the nation for the first time during a live interview with journalists on LBS.
Responding to the much-talked about step-down protest, the Liberian leader was frank to say, he won’t waste his precious time, because the protesters do not have the mandate to oust him.
“I respected them, by going to the Senate for four hours to talk to them. They refused to listen to me and to even give me what they had. I called them again to the Mansion, and they wasted my time there. Not any of them including Boakai, Mr. Urey and Cummings can ask me to step down. I am not going anywhere. I defeated them in 2017 and, if you bring all of them together again, I will defeat them again,” Pres. Weah said.
Referring to Costa, President George Weah said, “My primary objective is to fix the economy and not to waste my time talking about a man (Costa) who contested and cannot win 500 votes to oust me. He does not have the mandate to ask me to step down”.
Also responding to former Vice President’s statement- asking government to provide security for the protesters to bring President George Weah as indicated by the protesters “Weah step down” President Weah frowned and outlined the goodness he has done for former Vice President Joseph Boakai to be inciting people against him.
President Weah wondered why a man he has shown much love to over the years will reciprocate such with his alignment with those who want to see his government ousted.
According to him, he paid former Vice Boakai’s hospital bills when he was seriously ill and besides that, among other good things he said, “I bought him two new vehicles. Even his Boakai Jr. can’t say, Mr. Weah is wicked”.
Commenting on the economy, he outlined scores of inherited challenges that might have impeded swift economic growth inclusive of debts such as 9M LEC bills, 65M Commercial Bank loans, and a low balance of Consolidated Accounts of 7M that could not service salaries at least and a low reserve of about 150M etc.
Weah alluded to the fact that it was now time to transcend beyond the everyday excuses and execute the people’s mandate and intoned many steps taken to drive the economic sector inclusive of austerity measures such as the Harmonization Policy, application to the its program now yielding fruitful results, creating Business-friendly environment, and creating sensitive tax regime.
Particularly on the proposed tax policy of seizure of assets on tax deviants by LRA boss, the President expressed a slightly different approach and encouraged a more efficient approach. He stressed also the move to encourage massive investment in the Agricultural Sector utilizing the World Bank’s incentives.
The President expressed his concern about monies outside of the banks and stated that people’s lack of confidence in the banking sector is primarily responsible. He then encouraged citizens to rekindle their confidence amidst reforms at the CBL and denounced moves by individuals believed to be hoarding Liberian dollars.