MONROVIA – Liberia’s newly inaugurated President, Joseph N. Boakai, Sr., has declared that during his reign, no more there will be business as usual, calling on Liberians to join him on what he described as an arduous journey for national reconstruction and renewal.
In his inaugural speech, which he did not completely deliver due to heat exhaustion blamed on poor organization on the part of event planners, Boakai stated that the message sent by the electorate by voting in the Liberian elections last year and garnering courage and determination to protect their votes, is loud and clear, and a one intended to depart from doing business as usual.
He observed that it is a clarion call for a new Liberia, a different Liberia, a Liberia that genuinely practices the rule of law and adheres to the tenets of democratic governance in the interest of every Liberian.
During his six-year tenure, Boakai promised to be the President of all Liberians including those at home and others in the Diaspora, indicating that now is the time partnership gives way to nationalism and inclusive governance.
He informed Liberians that on his watch as president, the culture of unfinished business, doing things in a haphazard and unserious manner must be discouraged.
“We must restore hope to ourselves, individually, and as a collectivity,” he added, promising that his administration must do all to restore dignity and integrity to public service.
He named livable remuneration and pension schemes to civil servants and Foreign Service government workers, as part of the process of restoring dignity and integrity to public service.
“We must restore respect for the rule of law, and respect for officers of the law across our three branches of government,” said Joe Boakai.
He stated that amid difficulties, dysfunction, a culture of impunity, and corruption in high and low places, he has come to rescue Liberia from these conditions and others similar to them.
Howbeit, Boakai was quick to point out that he has not assumed state power with false assurance, noting that his plan to fix the ills his administration is inheriting must go together with realistic expectations.
“We will act in the first hundred days of our Administration, and then diligently pursue our rescue mission,” President Joe Boakai vowed, disclosing that he began the quest for the presidency because something seemed wrong with Liberians, and the leadership of the country.
He averred that rather than the positives, he observed that Liberians were accentuating the negatives about their country and about each other.
He continued: “We were initiating false starts, building on poor foundations. We were deepening our differences, creating new social fault lines. Inclusive and accountable governance was at an all-time low. We created a culture of unfinished business, and engaged in ad hoc undertakings, making this behavior the “new normal.” We were chevalier about the rule of law. We lowered standards in many domains of our common life as a people. We seem to have lost our way, lost hope.”
But Joe Boakai emphasized that he has taken office to rekindle hope and reposition Liberians on their national pathway, indicating; “I have come to remind us that though the accident of our births has made of us a diverse people, we must employ our CITIZENSHIP, our Liberian citizenship to make of us a united people, for only a United people can build a nation.”
He unveiled his plan regarding where his administration intends to take Liberia during the span of his reign, adding that for the six years he will rule as president, the country’s political energies must be refocused.
With the 2023 electoral campaign ruckuses now things of the past, Joe Boakai announced that he embraces all Liberian citizens both at home and in the Diaspora, indicating that one of the good things brought to light by the campaign, and facilitated by social media, is that Liberians from all walks of life had a chance to engage a “national conversation” about the past, present, and future prospects of their country.
“We learned together what is wrong with our country, and hopefully what is right as well,” Joe Boakai emphasized, calling on Liberians to now recalibrate, and “restore the years the locusts have eaten” by accentuating the positives about their country and about each other.
“As we think, love, and build Liberia, let us take this state of mind to the business of national healing and reconciliation, both the old and new emerging social cleavages,” Joe Boakai urged Liberians, adding; “Let us restore inclusivity, transparency, and accountability to governance at all levels of our society, including government.”
He acknowledged the contributions of Liberia’s past presidents, vowing to build upon the strengths and correct the shortcomings of all of his 25 predecessors.
He then thanked former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, whom he served along with as Vice President for 12 Years, for her stewardship.
He referred to Johnson-Sirleaf as his former boss, recounting her stewardship endeavors at a time he said Liberia needed to come out of the ruins of war.
President Joe Boakai also commended his immediate predecessor, ex-President George Weah, for living up to the dictates of the Liberian constitution and laws in ensuring the smooth transfer of political power.
