By Nah P. Andrew
MONROVIA – Former soccer superstar, George Weah rose to power as the President of Liberia in 2018. He was hailed as a beacon of hope, promising a brighter future for the Liberian people. However, as time went on, the reality of his leadership began to take a darker turn. As Weah sought a second term as president, the country finds itself in the clutches of poverty. Despite his initial promises of economic prosperity and job creation, the Liberian people are left disillusioned and are struggling to make ends meet just under six years. Weah’s Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) government has miserably failed to attract much-needed investments, and corruption had become pervasive, eating away the very fabric of the nation. As our senior Staff writer reports, prominent Liberian Talk show-Spoon Talk, has exposed Weah in a dossier of evidence pointing to how Weah and his cohorts in their desperate attempt to win second term in October, are allegedly using tax dollars to buy votes from the empoverished Liberians they have exploited for six years.
Spoon Talk says desperate to secure his re-election, President Weah and his team, allegedly devised a questionable plan to raise a staggering $50 million for his campaign. Their strategy, according to Spoon Talk, involved earmarking funds from the country’s tax dollars, essentially using the hard-earned money of the Liberian masses to buy votes from the impoverished population.
One of the targets of this audacious scheme according to the documents displayed by the Talk Show is the mining giant ArcelorMittal, a significant player in Liberia’s economy.
Weah and his team squeezed the company for financial contributions, exerting pressure and leveraging their influence to obtain the funds they needed to fuel their re-election campaign.
Bea Mountain, a renowned gold mining company in Liberia, also found itself entangled in Weah’s web of political maneuvering, report disclosed. I said the Weah government sought to extract financial support from this firm, exploiting it for personal gain rather than utilizing it for the benefit of the nation, said the Spoon Talk program last evening.
Furthermore, Spoon Talk disclosed that the rubber industry, symbolized by the Jetty Rubber Company, faced a similar fate. The report narrated that the Weah’s government allegedly saw an opportunity to tap into the profits of this sector, effectively diverting funds that should have been allocated towards the development of the industry and the improvement of the lives of rubber farmers.
As news of Weah’s alleged dubious campaign funding spread throughout Liberia, the people grew increasingly frustrated and disillusioned. They had placed their hopes in his leadership, only to be met with broken promises and a government steeped in corruption.
During the program, callers including opposition party people, Civil society organizations, activists, and concerned citizens began to rise, demanding accountability and transparency from their leaders.
The story of George Weah’s campaign money became a turning point in Liberia’s history. It served as a wake-up call for the citizens, igniting a flame of resilience and determination to reclaim their country from the clutches of corruption, said one caller on the program. The caller said the Liberian people will rally together and demanding a government that would prioritize their welfare, attract genuine investments, and foster sustainable development for all.
With the revelation by this renowed Liberian Talk Show, the tale of George Weah’s campaign funds become a cautionary tale for future generations, reminding them of the importance of holding leaders accountable and fighting for a better future.
The Liberian people are coming out of a devastating civil war and are embarked on a journey towards rebuilding their institutions, promoting transparency, and nurturing a culture of integrity that would endure for generations to come. However, if documents released by Spoon Talk are are anything to go by, it appears the CDC Government elected on the matro of pro-poor, is operating on a different level, allegedly duping and scooping the little resources of Africa oldest black nation while the masses are left in limbo.
Spoon Talk narrates that millions of dollars are being shared amongst a few Weah officials for transportation, compensation for the suffering electorates and largely a very corrupt media that only present the positives of the Weah regime and disregard the criminality of the CDC Government.
Everywhere Weah went in the campaign for his so-called second term bid, he is being resisted by the masses, said another caller, who indicated that no matter the scheme being perpetrated by Weah and his men, Liberians have decided to remove the CDC from power through the power of the ballot box.
As it was reported by Smart News yesterday, the Liberian President finds himself facing a moment of reckoning as he prepares to confront the people of the Southeast region after years of unfulfilled commitments. The President is planning a campaign trip to the region.
The President, who once enjoyed enormous support from the region, now faces the daunting task of rebuilding trust and addressing the frustrations of a disillusioned constituency.
Weah hails from the Southeast region-a region rich in natural resources and vibrant communities, has been grappling with a multitude of challenges, ranging from inadequate infrastructure, especially road network to economic hardships.
During his rise to power, President Weah made sweeping promises to uplift the lives of the people in the Southeast, vowing to address their long-standing grievances that includes the construction of the coastal highway and improve their quality of life.
However, as time passed, the people of the Southeast began to witness a stark disparity between the President’s words and actions. Key pledges, including crucial infrastructure projects and economic development initiatives, remained unfulfilled, leaving the region mired in a state of neglect and disillusionment.
The once-ardent supporters of President Weah now question his commitment to their well-being. The broken promises have sown seeds of doubt, and the people of the Southeast are eager to hold their leader accountable for his unfulfilled commitments. Community leaders, activists, and ordinary citizens are demanding answers, seeking reassurance that their concerns will finally be addressed. In wake of these, sources say a few loyalists of Weah continued to impress on him that all is well in the area.
President Weah finds himself at a critical juncture as he prepares to face his people in the Southeast. His visit to the region for his re-election campaign, represents a pivotal moment, wherein he must confront the accumulated frustrations and restore faith in his leadership.
The President’s ability to acknowledge his past shortcomings, present a concrete plan of action, and demonstrate a genuine commitment to change will determine his credibility and the future of his relationship with the Southeast region. This is even subject to even if the people will really give him a second chance.
The people of the Southeast, once hopeful and eager for progress, are now cautiously observing President Weah’s every move. They yearn for tangible results and transformative change that will uplift their communities and improve their livelihoods. The President’s visit to the Southeast is not merely symbolic; it is a litmus test of his leadership, trustworthiness, and ability to learn from past mistakes.
As President Weah engages with the people of the region, the spotlight is on him to tell the people why he failed on his promises, bridge the gap of disillusionment, and rebuild the shattered trust.
The road ahead is challenging, but it offers an opportunity for the President to rectify past failures and forge a new path towards inclusive governance that leaves no region behind.
The Southeastern region waits with bated breath, eager to see if President Weah can rise to the occasion, restore their faith, and usher in a new era of progress and prosperity for all, if he’s re-elected, as another candidate from the same region, the Collaborating Political Parties’ Alexander Cummings as well as Unity Party’s Joseph Boakai have been knocking on the doors of disgruntled people of the region-telling them that they can do better then the former football star. Efforts made to contact the CDC campaign team failed up to press time.
