MONROVIA, LIBERIA – In a bold and impassioned statement on Sunday, December 8, 2024, Matthew Nyanplu, former Assistant Minister for Information Services at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs, and Tourism (MICAT), declared a definitive break from the Unity Party (UP). He announced that he and his supporters would sever all ties with the party, officially positioning themselves as an opposition force against UP leadership. The former minister’s decision marks a significant shift in his political journey, and his frustrations with the current state of governance under President Joseph Nyumah Boakai were evident in his statement.
Reflecting on his past support for the Unity Party, the former MICAT official recalled his early involvement with the party, alongside the late Mamadee Diakite at Prime FM in 2015. During this period, they supported President Boakai and the UP’s vision for Liberia’s future. Nyanplu noted, however, that after the 2017 elections and his subsequent dismissal from Prime FM—allegedly due to political pressure from President George Weah and the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC)—he remained hopeful that the UP under Boakai’s leadership would bring meaningful change. He continued to back the Unity Party, believing that it was the party capable of addressing Liberia’s dire needs, especially in contrast to the leadership of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
But over time, his hopes began to fade. The former assistant minister highlighted his recent public criticisms of Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti, accusing her of being complicit in what he termed a “scam” involving the NEKOTECH project, which charged Liberians substantial fees for unfulfilled promises. He expressed his dismay at the lack of accountability within the Boakai administration, particularly as President Boakai chose to shield Nyanti from criticism rather than support transparency and truth.
The decision to break from the Unity Party came after the former minister’s indefinite suspension for speaking out against corruption and deceit. He criticized the actions of President Boakai and his Information Minister, Jerolinmek Piah, for perpetuating falsehoods about the government’s involvement in the NEKOTECH scam. According to him, these actions demonstrated a pattern of deception ingrained in the governance philosophy of the Boakai administration, undermining free speech and the core principles of democratic governance.
Nyanplu also expressed his deep concerns over the erosion of the rule of law under the current government. He accused President Boakai of deliberately violating legal protections, including the tenure of government officials. He pointed to the deliberate disregard for laws and the troubling political accommodation of incompetent individuals in key government positions. This, he argued, had become a hallmark of the UP leadership and further convinced him that real change would not be possible under their stewardship.
In his statement, he also lamented the lack of support from UP members in his defense, particularly in relation to his suspension for exposing government deception. The former minister suggested that many within the Unity Party were more concerned with maintaining their positions of power rather than advocating for transparency and good governance. He criticized the party’s leadership for fostering a “powerful imperial presidency,” one that stifled dissent and free speech in favor of political survival.
Now, disillusioned by what he perceives as a failure of leadership within the Unity Party, the former MICAT official announced his decision to join the presidential race. Nyanplu explained that his primary motivation was to fight for the Liberian people and pursue the radical transformation the country desperately needs. He emphasized that his campaign would focus on delivering the changes that the Unity Party, under Boakai, had failed to achieve. He also vowed to campaign relentlessly against the possibility of a second term for Boakai, urging his supporters to join him in this new political movement.
In a call to action, the former minister outlined his vision for the future of Liberia, one that would prioritize transparency, accountability, and genuine reforms. He announced the formation of a new political party, tentatively named Party for the People, which he believes will champion the interests of ordinary Liberians and push for the systemic changes necessary to address the country’s challenges.
