MONROVIA – Things are falling apart within the Unity Party as key followers of President Joseph Boakai voice their concerns over his perceived slow pace in auditing the past government. Despite promising transparency, accountability, and integrity during the 2023 presidential election, President Boakai appears to be falling short of these commitments, according to his supporters.
One of Boakai’s loyal supporters, Martin Kollie, has been particularly vocal. Kollie on Tuesday, June 11, highlighted the President’s statement from a VOA interview on December 19, 2023, in which Boakai pledged to hire an international audit firm to scrutinize former President Weah’s administration. Kollie expressed his frustration, stating, “Pres. Boakai, our country was LOOTED. No one has been made to account after 140 days, 22 hours. I am not waiting for next year. It will be too late to sit and watch missteps over missteps.”
Kollie emphasized the urgency of holding the past administration accountable and ensuring that President Boakai fulfills his campaign promises. He warned that individuals within the current administration are trying to dissuade the President from pursuing an international audit and prosecuting corrupt officials from the previous government. “There are people around the president who are already stealing and who want to loot like former officials did. They are convincing the president not to pursue this path of international audit to hold Weah and his bandwagon of State criminals fully accountable,” Kollie warned.
Kollie stressed the importance of President Boakai demonstrating political will to fight corruption at all levels. “The president has to be decisive and aggressive against corruption. Political will must be demonstrated at all times and at all levels,” he insisted. Kollie also reminded the President of the risks taken by supporters to propel him to power, stating, “Some of us took risks with our lives and that of our families to propel him to The Presidency. We did so because we love our people and we love our country. Too many things are going on. He has to put his feet down to defend the Republic’s interests and the People’s cause.”
Also, Christopher Walter Sisulu Sivili, echoed Kollie’s concerns. Sivili questioned the delay in delivering justice and accountability promised during the campaign. “It is so sad for our country and the people. Why are politicians always betraying the trust and confidence of the people? Where is the justice and accountability you promised the people? Is Mr. Weah’s regime no more corrupt?” Sivili asked.
Sivili further questioned the inactivity of the Ministry of Justice and the lack of investigations into human rights abuses that occurred during the previous administration. “What is happening to the Ministry of Justice? Is the Unity Party-led government telling us that there were no human rights abuses records they have seen to investigate after 5 months in power? What happened to the gross human rights violation that took place on July 26, 2022?” Sivili queried. He emphasized that development without accountability and justice is meaningless. “Development without accountability and justice is no development. President Boakai needs to focus on the real issues,” he concluded.
Critics argue that Boakai’s slow response undermines the credibility of his administration and raises questions about his commitment to the principles he championed during his campaign. The delay in auditing the previous government suggests a lack of urgency that contradicts the promises made to voters. This perceived inaction risks eroding public trust and diminishing Boakai’s ability to lead effectively.
Furthermore, the presence of alleged corrupt elements within Boakai’s administration complicates his efforts to address past wrongdoings. If not addressed promptly, these internal challenges could weaken his presidency and prevent meaningful reforms. Supporters like Kollie and Sivili fear that without decisive action, the same patterns of corruption and impunity will persist, undermining Liberia’s progress.
The growing dissatisfaction among President Boakai’s supporters signals potential challenges for his administration. As pressure mounts from within his party, Boakai faces the difficult task of balancing political considerations with his campaign promises of transparency and accountability. The coming months will be crucial for the President to address these concerns and demonstrate his commitment to the principles that brought him to power.
Ultimately, the situation calls for a critical assessment of Boakai’s leadership style and his administration’s priorities. While political constraints and competing interests are inevitable, the President must navigate these challenges to fulfill his mandate. The eyes of the nation are on Boakai, and his response to these criticisms will determine not only his political legacy but also the future direction of Liberia.
