BOAKAI’S MAN KONNEH BASHED OVER CALL FOR LIBERIANS TO MANAGE THEIR EXPECTATIONS

MONROVIA – President-elect Joseph Boakai’s right-hand man and confidant, former Minister of Finance, Amara Konneh, has been bashed by several citizens over his renewed call for Liberians to manage their expectations during the reign of Boakai.

Konneh, who played a major role in Boakai’s 14 November presidential election victory over current President George Weah, has repeatedly made the call for Liberians to manage their expectations when the incoming administration headed by former Vice President Boakai takes over, citing economic challenges, especially a huge debt burden left behind by the outgoing regime.

In his latest call for Liberians to manage their expectations, Konneh, the newly elected Senator of Gbarpolu County, noted that the outgoing administration has submitted to the Legislature a proposed 2024 budget of US$625.57 million, of which he claims US$594.5 million or 95% of the budget, is allocated to recurrent expenditure.

Konneh, who referred to the budget recently submitted by the Weah administration as a “do-nothing” budget, averred that the budget is primarily to take care of public debt and government workers and that there is nothing allocated therein to invest in Liberians.

He accused the Weah-led government of not fully settling salary payments to civil servants for Fiscal Year 2023, equating same to the first challenge the Boakai administration must address.

He challenged the incoming administration to be more open to letting Liberians know that with such a challenge, a tough road lies ahead of the Boakai leadership, calling on Liberians therefore, to manage their expectations.

Howbeit, several Liberians have differed with Konneh and have lashed out at him, with some insisting that they would accept nothing less from the Boakai-led government than the incoming administration rescuing the country.

Boakai and his political party, the Unity Party, campaigned on the mantra, “Rescue Mission”, promising Liberians that if elected; the new UP-led government would rescue Liberians and the country that they accused Weah and the ruling CDC of leading down the hill, charging the outgoing administration among other things of bad governance, rampant corruption, and misrule.

The Liberians, who bashed Konneh, took to Facebook Wednesday, expressing their dissatisfaction over his renewed call for citizens to manage their expectations under a regime that promised to rescue the country.

Haji Kamara, a Liberian wrote informing Konneh that Liberians could not afford to waste another six-year term of the incoming administration, as was the case during the reign of the outgoing regime.

Another Liberian, Stephen Gologoes Peters, for his party reminded the former Minister of Finance that except for rescue, Liberians will accept no excuse from the Boakai administration.

“The expectation is for us to be rescued without excuse,” Peters wrote.

“We count on y’all to rescue us effectively January 2024. No excuse! We will not rest until UP rescues us!” Jesse Jacobs, another Liberian, wrote.

For his part, Martin Yallah, Jr., termed Konneh’s call for Liberians to manage their expectations, as a hard joke, adding; “The heaven you saw that could be hanging over Liberia after y’all win, y’all will tell us. Rescue without excuse.”

Theolin W. Thompson-Whea told Konneh that no need for the new administration headed by Boakai to panic, as the expectations of Liberians are not much.

“All we want is that JNB, JKK leadership must make a difference for positive change that will improve the livelihoods of Liberians, in a very broad context,” Thompson-Whea wrote.

“No managing expectations,” wrote Francis Mieh, who believes as per the UP’s “Rescue Mission” mantra, the incoming administration is sophisticated and has the wherewithal to take care of all the expectations of Liberians.

Adolphus Kpadeh wrote: “Ellen’s government left the CDC with difficulties and as usual, this new government should also be ready for such. No managing expectations.”

Ishmael Sekou Kamara: “We believe in the new government that we all fought for and I personally wanna believe that JNB’s administration will prioritize professionals and technocrats in handling major issues as in recasting the budget for FY24.

We risked our lives, careers, and families not because of personal interest but for the sake of a better Nation. In this light, our expectations will remain high until thy kingdom come. Liberia and Liberians deserve better after all. Rescue is SURE!!!”

For Fallah Joseph, he’s of the belief that Konneh is complaining. So he wants the Boakai trusted political ally, to desist from such fret, which he termed as “nonsense”, and let the incoming administration rescue the country as was promised by the “Rescue Mission.”

“We will not manage our expectations. JNB said he will RESCUE the country” Graceous R. Guar told Konneh, adding; “He knew exactly what to expect from this government when he said that.”

Guar continued: “These things were not hidden. Even the elementary school children knew what to expect after George Weah’s presidency,” closing with the sarcasm; “The country has been RESCUED. Our expectations are high.”

Abu Mohammed Kawah: “Mr. Konneh we will not manage no expectation you promised you must deliver.”

DE Upright Man: “Is it really strange to you that the current UP government like the other past governments would face challenges? Before raising those expectations that you want to be managed now, did you really expect you were going to meet everything set on a silver platter for the incoming UP administration? You criticized the previous administration like they too never had any challenges and proffered yourself as a better alternative. The people cannot lower for you the very expectations you yourself raised.

If this rescue train fails to rescue in the next six years, you might have to be the one to manage your expectations.”