MONROVIA, LIBERIA – The Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) has delivered a response to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), accusing the Unity Party-led administration of eroding democratic gains, undermining the rule of law, and mismanaging the economy. Addressing the press conference from the party’s headquarters in Congo Town on Tuesday, January 27, 2025, Margibi County Senator Nathaniel McGill labeled the current administration as divisive and ineffective, asserting that the country is in a state of crisis.
“We choose to speak directly to the Liberian people because of the grave instability and uncertainty that now hang over our democracy and economy,” McGill declared in a fiery address. “Our nation is in crisis. The state of the nation is weak, divided, and polarized.”
Highlighting the boycott of the President’s SONA by eight Senators, over 25 Representatives, and the entire Supreme Court bench, McGill emphasized what he called the “decline of Liberia under President Boakai.” According to McGill, the 2023 concession by former President George M. Weah to Boakai after the elections symbolized a high point in Liberia’s democratic history, marking the peaceful transfer of power. He contrasted this with the current state of the nation, accusing the Unity Party of plunging Liberia into disarray.
“President Weah handed over a peaceful country, a nation where the rule of law was respected. One year later, Liberia is in a mess,” McGill asserted, accusing the Unity Party of dismantling the rule of law. He claimed that the administration had orchestrated a constitutional crisis, undermined the judiciary, and suppressed opposition voices.
He further alleged that citizens are now being “beaten and wounded” for exercising their constitutional rights, while opposition figures and former government officials face what he described as politically motivated witch-hunts. McGill also criticized the prolonged legislative standoff between two factions of the House of Representatives, accusing the Executive of imposing an illegitimate Speaker on the government and people of Liberia.
“Instead of focusing on putting volunteer teachers and health workers on the payroll, this administration has chosen to invest its time and resources in prolonging a legislative crisis that is destroying our democracy,” McGill lamented.
Turning his attention to economic management, McGill accused the Unity Party of failing to deliver on key campaign promises. He highlighted a string of unfulfilled pledges, including the reversal of the harmonization policy, the reduction of commodity prices, and the stabilization of the Liberian dollar. He also accused the administration of exacerbating poverty through poor budget execution and financial mismanagement.
“The ‘Rescue Mission’ has become the ‘Excuse Mission,’” McGill said, pointing to a sharp rise in commodity prices and a worsening exchange rate. He dismissed President Boakai’s claim of a $72.6 million surplus in the 2024 budget as either a fabrication or an indication of corruption, noting that the alleged surplus was not reflected in the 2025 budget.
On the controversial topic of rice prices, McGill refuted the President’s assertion that costs had been reduced, noting that Liberians were now paying more for a 25kg bag of rice than they had been under the CDC administration. He also questioned the government’s claims of removing 6,000 ghost names from the payroll, suggesting that the figure was grossly inflated to mislead international partners like the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
McGill accused the Unity Party of riding on the coattails of CDC-initiated projects, including the West Point Climate Resilience Project and the Monrovia Metropolitan Climate Resilience Project, which were secured under President Weah’s leadership. He urged the Boakai administration to give credit where it was due rather than misleading the public about its achievements.
“Liberians now understand that ‘squandering opportunity’ is a specialized skill of the Unity Party,” McGill declared, contrasting the CDC’s first-year achievements with what he described as the Unity Party’s failure to deliver.
The Senator listed key accomplishments from the CDC’s first year in office, including the construction of 75 kilometers of community roads, placing 2,300 health workers on payroll, and maintaining stable rice prices. He also highlighted the introduction of free tuition at public universities and free WAEC fees for high school students as hallmarks of the CDC’s governance.
By comparison, McGill argued, the Unity Party had no significant achievements to boast of in its first year. He claimed that critical sectors like healthcare and education were grossly underfunded, with frontline service delivery institutions receiving less than 50% of their budgetary allocations.
“The 23 public referral hospitals that serve over 5.2 million Liberians are in crisis,” McGill said, pointing to unpaid health workers and a lack of essential medical supplies. He accused the administration of prioritizing benefits for senior government officials over the welfare of ordinary Liberians.
The CDC’s critique also extended to Liberia’s fiscal and investment climate, with McGill accusing the Boakai administration of deterring foreign direct investment and mismanaging public resources. He cited scandals in scholarship programs, illegal dismissals of government workers, and inflated payroll costs as evidence of poor governance.
“The UP administration has turned budget execution into a tool for personal enrichment,” McGill alleged, highlighting what he described as excessive allowances for senior officials and the misuse of government funds.
The Senator concluded his address by calling on Liberians to hold the Unity Party accountable for its failures. He urged citizens to demand transparency and better governance, warning that the country’s current trajectory could lead to further economic hardship and social unrest.
“Our nation deserves better,” McGill said. “The CDC will continue to stand with the Liberian people, holding this government accountable and fighting for the democratic values and economic progress we achieved during our time in office.”
