MONROVIA, LIBERIA – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai is under mounting criticism for flying a private jet to the 66th ECOWAS Summit in Abuja, Nigeria, sparking accusations of hypocrisy and poor judgment. The controversy comes after President Boakai, while in opposition, strongly condemned his predecessor, former President George Weah, for using private jets, calling it a waste of public funds in a struggling economy.
Critics, including prominent activist Martin K. N. Kollie, have labeled Boakai’s decision as a betrayal of his campaign promise to end wasteful spending under his “Rescue Mission” agenda. In a statement issued on Monday, December 16, 2024, Kollie accused President Boakai of failing to live up to his own standards of governance.
“Flying a private jet amid extreme hardship and unemployment is ultra vires to ‘RESCUE.’ Wrong decision. Poor economic judgment. Waste of public resources. Bad optics,” Kollie wrote.
Kollie revealed detailed flight information, tracking President Boakai’s travel on a Bombardier Challenger 604 private jet, operated by a private owner. According to the data, the jet departed Monrovia on December 14, 2024, at 10:43 AM and arrived in Abuja after a two-hour, thirty-four-minute flight.
Highlighting the contradiction in Boakai’s actions, Kollie reminded the public of the President’s past criticism of former President Weah for similar expenditures.
“You are on record for calling such a lavish precedent ‘wasteful and wrong in a poor country,’” Kollie stated. “We condemned Weah then, and we condemn you now for doing exactly what you criticized.”
Kollie also raised concerns about transparency, calling for full disclosure of the costs associated with the flight. He urged the Boakai administration to reveal who paid for the flight, how much it cost, and whether public funds were involved.
“As an ‘open and transparent’ government, we expect full disclosure. These lavish expenditures only fuel public distrust and deepen economic hardship.”
The activist emphasized the economic struggles Liberians face, including shortages in medical supplies, rising youth unemployment, and thousands of students at institutions like the University of Liberia (UL) and MVTC being out of school due to financial constraints.
“Over 20,000 students are out of school because of no money, but you are traveling on a private jet just for a routine meeting in Nigeria. What returns does Liberia get from this?” Kollie questioned.
Kollie also criticized the optics of the decision, stressing that flying a private jet does little to address Liberia’s economic woes and instead further depletes national resources.
“Traveling on a chartered flight to an ECOWAS meeting does not put food on our people’s table. It only bleeds our national coffers further. The people, most of whom are still jobless and poverty-stricken, are watching.”
The statement concluded with a call for President Boakai to adjust his leadership decisions and live by his campaign mantra of “No Business as Usual.” Kollie underscored that genuine supporters of Boakai’s administration are speaking out not out of malice but from a love for Liberia.
“We supported you because we love Liberia, not politicians. These truths must be told because Liberia comes first.”
Meanwhile, Roosevelt Sackor, in a comment on Facebook, noted that as criticisms continue to mount, political commentators, including opposition figures, will hold President Boakai accountable for misleading Liberians. Sackor added that the President will face increasing pressure to explain his actions and align his leadership with the promises made during his campaign. He emphasized that many Liberians are now waiting to see whether the President will respond to calls for transparency and fiscal discipline.
