By Our Reporter | Smart News Liberia
MONROVIA – Cllr. Kanio Bai Gbala, an Assistant Professor of Law at the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law, University of Liberia, on Saturday, June 6, 2026, issued a sharp critique of Liberia’s economic structure, warning that Liberians risk becoming mere spectators in their own economy unless urgent steps are taken to empower local businesses, expand access to capital, and increase citizens’ participation in wealth creation.
In a public commentary titled “Reclaiming the Economy: A Call for Liberia’s Economic Revival,” the Executive Chairperson of the Liberia Political Centrism Movement argued that while Liberians continue to devote enormous energy to political contests, insufficient attention is being paid to economic ownership and long-term prosperity.
Gbala, who also serves as an Assistant Professor of Law at the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law, was careful to emphasize that his remarks were not directed against President Joseph Boakai or his administration. In fact, he reaffirmed his support for the President and his reform agenda, stating that he remains committed to Liberia’s success and would continue supporting Boakai should he seek re-election in 2029.
However, Gbala warned that patriotism requires honest conversations about the country’s economic realities.
“The thoughts expressed here have been shaped by numerous conversations with Liberian professionals, entrepreneurs, academics, public servants, and ordinary citizens,” he wrote. “While we often disagree on politics, we frequently arrive at the same conclusion on one issue: Liberia must urgently reclaim its economy.”
At the heart of Gbala’s argument is what he describes as a troubling imbalance between political power and economic power. According to him, Liberians often engage in fierce political battles over public offices and appointments while substantial sectors of the economy remain dominated by foreign interests.
“For too long, Liberians have invested enormous energy in political contests while paying insufficient attention to economic ownership,” he stated.
Gbala contended that political influence without economic empowerment provides little lasting benefit to citizens, arguing that a nation cannot achieve genuine prosperity when its people have limited ownership and control over the systems that generate wealth.
“The uncomfortable truth is that political power without economic power is often an illusion,” he declared.
The legal scholar raised a series of questions he believes Liberians must confront: Who owns the country’s major firms? Who secures the largest contracts? Who controls access to financing? And who builds wealth-generation systems capable of surviving changes in government?
“Far too often, the answers point away from Liberians,” he lamented.
Gbala painted a stark picture of what he sees as the consequences of this imbalance. He observed that foreign companies connected to Liberia’s natural resources and public spending have built successful enterprises and accumulated substantial wealth, while many Liberians continue to live in communities lacking basic infrastructure, quality roads, drainage systems, and reliable public services.
The criticism is not directed at foreign investment itself, he clarified. Rather, he argued that Liberia has failed to ensure that its own citizens participate meaningfully in the economic benefits generated within the country.
“The challenge is not the presence of foreign investors. Every successful nation welcomes investment,” Gbala wrote. “The challenge is ensuring that Liberians are also positioned to participate meaningfully in the wealth generated from their own economy.”
Drawing lessons from countries such as Singapore, South Korea, and Botswana, Gbala argued that economic transformation requires deliberate policy decisions rather than reliance on market forces alone.
Among his recommendations is the creation of policies that would reserve a portion of government procurement opportunities for qualified Liberian-owned businesses.
Government, he noted, remains the largest spender in the country, making public procurement one of the most effective tools for building a stronger Liberian middle class.
“We should therefore seriously consider ring-fencing a defined percentage of government procurement for qualified Liberian-owned businesses,” he proposed.
According to Gbala, such a policy should be transparent, merit-based, and accompanied by initiatives that improve the technical capacity of local firms to compete successfully.
Beyond procurement reform, Gbala called for a fundamental shift in national attitudes toward wealth creation and entrepreneurship. He argued that Liberians must reject the belief that economic success is reserved for outsiders and instead cultivate a culture that celebrates legitimate prosperity.
“We must stop treating success with suspicion. We must replace destructive envy with constructive competition,” he urged.
The commentary also focused heavily on the banking sector, where Gbala argued that access to credit remains one of the biggest obstacles facing ordinary Liberians and small businesses.
He maintained that teachers, lawyers, nurses, engineers, civil servants, entrepreneurs, and other professionals with stable incomes should have realistic opportunities to obtain financing for homes, businesses, education, and investments.
“Economic revival also requires meaningful banking reform,” he asserted.
According to Gbala, broader access to finance would not only improve individual livelihoods but also stimulate local enterprise, job creation, and community development across the country.
His vision for economic revival extends beyond Monrovia and reflects his own hopes for retirement in Grand Gedeh County, where he dreams of living on a modern homestead connected by reliable roads and supported by a functioning economy.
Yet he acknowledged that such aspirations depend on larger national realities, including infrastructure development, electricity, financing, and economic opportunities reaching every part of Liberia.
Ultimately, Gbala argued that Liberia’s future depends on shifting the national conversation from political competition to economic transformation.
“We must learn to see beyond politics,” he wrote. “We must stop viewing public office as the primary route to economic security.”
He called on government officials, business leaders, financial institutions, civil society organizations, and ordinary citizens to work together in building a more inclusive economy capable of creating wealth for Liberians across all counties.
For Gbala, the central question facing the country is not which political party prevails in elections, but whether Liberia can build an economy that genuinely belongs to its people.
“The future of Liberia depends on it,” he concluded, calling for greater support for Liberian businesses, expanded access to capital, stronger local enterprise, and economic opportunities that reach every corner of the nation.
