MONROVIA — The Political Leader of the Alternative National Congress (ANC), Alexander B. Cummings, has mounted a sharp and detailed response to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA), questioning the administration’s claims of recovery and progress while outlining what he described as practical, people-centered alternatives to Liberia’s deepening challenges.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at the ANC headquarters in Monrovia, Cummings addressed ordinary Liberians directly, invoking the daily struggles of market women, students, farmers, teachers, nurses, and workers across the country’s fifteen counties. He declared that Liberia stands “at a decisive crossroads,” two decades after the civil war and two years into the current administration.
President Boakai, in his SONA, assured the nation that Liberia is in a better state than it was a year ago. Cummings said he respects the President personally, noting, “He is my friend, and I know he loves Liberia,” but stressed that affection alone cannot replace accountability. “As a Liberian who listens to the everyday cries of our people,” Cummings asked, “Recovery for whom? Progress for who? Results where?”
Cummings argued that while the government highlighted macroeconomic indicators such as growth and inflation, these figures do not reflect the lived reality of most citizens. He cited Liberia’s position near the bottom of the Global Hunger Index, warning that hunger remains widespread and destructive. “This is not just a statistic,” he said. “It means our children’s futures are being cut short by stunted growth.”
Using street-level language to emphasize his point, Cummings said, “As the people say in the streets: ‘Da roads we will eat?’ You cannot cook coal tar. You cannot feed a child a blueprint.” He insisted that the true state of the nation must be measured by food security, safety, and access to dignified work.
Turning to public finances, Cummings described the US$1.2 billion national budget as a moral document that reveals government priorities. He questioned how such a record budget could coexist with Liberia’s status as one of the world’s poorest countries and the reality that millions of citizens remain unable to meet basic needs.
Cummings criticized what he called a bloated political class, pointing to sharp increases in the budgets of the Legislature and the National Security Agency, while hospitals and schools remain under-resourced. He warned that expected windfalls, including revenues from concession agreements, risk being absorbed into what he described as luxury spending rather than public services.
As an alternative, Cummings called for caps on wasteful spending, an end to excessive privileges for officials, and a shift of resources to frontline services such as health, education, and security. “If a budget cannot be explained to a market woman,” he said, “it was not written for her.”
On agriculture, Cummings challenged the administration’s claim that the sector is central to its development agenda. He argued that funding cuts undermine such declarations and proposed allocating at least ten percent of the national budget to agriculture, alongside investments in processing facilities and feeder roads to turn subsistence farming into profitable enterprise.
Cummings also placed strong emphasis on women’s economic empowerment and safety, noting that Liberian women own the majority of small businesses but face barriers to credit and justice. He called for a national micro-loan scheme and stronger prosecution of sexual and gender-based violence, warning that a country that cannot protect its daughters cannot claim to be recovering.
Addressing youth unemployment, Cummings rejected what he described as a reliance on temporary jobs, insisting that young people need pathways to careers. He proposed a National Youth Service Program and expanded technical and vocational education to equip young Liberians with practical skills.
On decentralization, Cummings said passing laws alone is insufficient. He called for devolving real financial authority to counties, strengthening county service centers, and empowering local leaders to prioritize development based on local needs.
Energy and infrastructure also featured prominently in his response. Cummings argued that development is impossible without reliable electricity and proposed immediate deployment of mini-grids and solar solutions, particularly for clinics, schools, and agro-processing.
On corruption, Cummings acknowledged the administration’s reported indictments but said convictions remain too few to deter wrongdoing. He called for special anti-corruption courts, aggressive asset recovery, and truly autonomous integrity institutions. “No one should be protected by friendship or party affiliation,” he said.
In closing, Cummings echoed President Boakai’s assertion that leadership is service but added a crucial qualifier. “Leadership is also delivery,” he said, stressing that economic growth must translate into reduced hunger and improved living standards.
Cummings said he sees resilience and potential in ordinary Liberians struggling daily under difficult conditions, describing them as the country’s true strength. He framed the ANC’s proposals not merely as criticism, but as a commitment to integrity, competence, and empathy in governance.
“The People’s Alternative is not just a critique,” Cummings declared. “It is a promise of a government that loves its people more than it loves itself.” He concluded with a call for urgency, stating that the time for empty rhetoric has passed and the time for action, and for Liberia to rise, is now.
