Monrovia – Center Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) Executive Director Anderson Miamen has sharply criticized the politicization of education and the exploitation of vulnerable citizens during election seasons, calling on public officials to practice accountability and genuinely serve the interests of ordinary Liberians, not just seek power for personal gain.
In a public post on his official Facebook page on Wednesday, April 17, 2025, Miamen expressed deep concern over a recent incident in Nimba County where schoolchildren were lined up to welcome a ruling party senatorial candidate. He questioned the Ministry of Education’s silence on the matter and demanded action against those responsible for involving students in political activities without their consent.
“If it was wrong yesterday, it should be wrong today,” Miamen asserted, emphasizing that such acts represent a broader pattern where politicians exploit the ignorance and vulnerability of citizens to advance their own interests.
He lamented what he described as a recurring cycle in Liberian politics, where politicians publicly praise “our people” during campaigns, only to abandon them after securing electoral victories. According to Miamen, once in power, these same politicians shift focus to themselves, their families, and close associates, leaving the broader population to struggle and wait endlessly for opportunities that rarely come.
Miamen stressed that politics in Liberia must move away from self-centeredness and instead focus on providing real services and transforming lives. He urged public officials to reduce waste, combat corruption, and make decisions that place the citizens’ welfare at the center of national development.
“When you cherish the people during elections, continue to cherish them after winning, through accountability, transparency, and integrity,” he concluded.
