MONROVIA – During the Ministry of Information’s regular press briefing on Thursday, May 30, 2024, Assistant Information Minister Matthew Nyanplu dismissed claims by the Council of Patriots (COP) of the former ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) that Liberia is declining under President Boakai’s administration. Nyanplu described the CDC-COP as “a group of less busy club boys” and labeled their statements as baseless and misleading.
The controversy erupted following a press conference held by the CDC-COP on May 29, 2024, where they alleged that Liberia was experiencing significant decline under the Boakai-Koung administration due to rampant corruption and ineffective leadership. The group accused the current administration of mismanaging state resources and failing to address critical issues.
Addressing these allegations, Assistant Minister Nyanplu categorically denied the claims. He asserted that the notion of a declining state under President Boakai was not only false but also far from the truth. “A declining country,” Nyanplu explained, “is one where public officials amass wealth from state resources within less than 100 days, to the detriment of the country and its people.”
Nyanplu highlighted several indicators of decline that were prevalent during the previous administration, including mysterious deaths, the sanctioning of government officials, and the unaccounted sums of 16 billion and 25 million Liberian dollars. He also mentioned the harmonization of civil servants’ salaries as part of the previous administration’s failures, implying that these issues are not characteristic of the current government’s performance.
It is worth noting that Nyanplu, a journalist and political commentator during the regime of the former Weah-Taylor CDC administration, labeled it corrupt and incompetent to govern Liberia. He called on Liberians during the 2023 presidential election not to reelect the CDC government. Nyanplu did not mince his words regarding the past government’s activities, including those of former President Weah.
The Assistant Information Minister’s statements aimed to reassure the public that the Boakai administration is committed to transparency and accountability. He urged the Liberian populace to disregard the CDC-COP’s unfounded accusations and to trust in the government’s ongoing efforts to improve the nation’s governance and economic stability.
In summary, the government’s response underscores its commitment to countering misinformation and maintaining public trust in its leadership. The Assistant Minister’s remarks reflect the administration’s stance that the CDC-COP’s claims are politically motivated and lack substantive evidence.
