MONROVIA, LIBERIA – Atty. Isaac W. Jackson, Jr. has urged the Baptist Church to revoke President Joseph Boakai’s deacon title following remarks the President made during a public event in Voinjama, Lofa County.
On December 22, 2024, during celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of county status for Bong, Grand Gedeh, Lofa, and Nimba Counties at Unification Park, President Boakai stated: “We want to encourage those who want to remain corrupt and steal money; I beg y’all, the money should be used to bless our people.” The comment has kindled public outrage, with critics calling it a tacit endorsement of corruption.
Atty. Jackson condemned the statement, asserting that it contradicts the moral teachings of the Baptist Church. “It is untenable that a Baptist deacon would promote moral decadence, i.e., stealing in the name of development,” he said. Jackson likened Boakai’s remarks to former Congolese dictator Mobutu Sese Seko’s infamous assertion: ‘If you want to steal, steal a little cleverly in a nice way.’
Jackson further alleged that President Boakai’s statement was influenced by the support he received from individuals with questionable reputations during his election campaign, including Stanton Witherspoon, a self-confessed fraudster, and Joe Kpoto, who was recently implicated in a scam involving a Japanese national. He argued that the President’s words could serve as a “green light to criminals and facilitators of criminality.”
In response to the backlash, the President’s office issued a statement on December 25, clarifying that President Boakai’s remarks were misinterpreted. The clarification read: “The message was clear: Liberia’s progress is dependent on the responsible use of public resources, and corruption must be eradicated for the country to move forward.” The statement also emphasized that the President’s administration is committed to combating corruption.
Despite the clarification, Jackson maintains that the Baptist Church must act swiftly to distance itself from any perceived support for corruption. “The Church needs to show that it does not condone criminality,” Jackson asserted, adding that Boakai’s role as a deacon now raises ethical questions.
