In his commentary, Liberian political analyst Vandalerk R. Patricks provides a critical assessment of the performance of President Joseph Boakai and highlights the potential security risks facing Liberia. Patricks notes the recent resurgence of military coups in parts of Africa, where citizens have celebrated the military leaders taking unprecedented steps to address corruption, restore public trust, and boost their economies.
Patricks argues that President Boakai should focus more on domestic issues and reduce his excessive foreign travel, which has not yielded significant remittances or tangible benefits for Liberia. He contrasts Liberia’s situation with neighboring countries like Kenya and Ghana, which have been receiving large amounts of foreign investment and aid.
Overall, the commentary examines Boakai’s leadership and the wider security environment in Africa, warning that Liberia could face similar challenges if the government does not prioritize addressing the country’s pressing domestic concerns. Patricks’ analysis offers important insights into the political and security dynamics shaping Liberia’s future under Boakai’s administration.
See full text: Security Risks: Is President Boakai Unknowingly Setting the Stage for Early Coup D’état?
The military overtake of power in Africa is resurgence, with military leaders becoming Africa’s true rescue missionaries. Guinea, Mali, and Niger have experienced coups d’état, and the leaders are taking unprecedented steps to crack down on corruption, restore public trust, and boost their economies. Citizens in these countries celebrate the military leaders more than civilian Democrats who were elected to take them from poverty. This should encourage President Boakai to focus on domestic fronts and stop excessive travel abroad that does not yield significant remittance. He went to South Korea and brought nothing in remittance. While Kenya and Ghana were receiving millions, Liberia was busy signing papers. Da book business you went to South Korea knowing your fellow presidents were receiving millions from the same trip? Falo Massaa, what is your problem?
JNB went to the U.S.–Africa Summit in Texas and nothing tangible happened. He just came from Atlanta, Georgia where he spoke at a business conference, but nothing seems to happen. The point is, no serious investor will come to Liberia and “put their money in the hole”. The debility of JNB and its Rescue Missionaries in fighting corruption is unprecedented. Going after former government officials for corruption, and leaving the crafty criminals within his government, is not a holistic tactic to deal with corruption. A current thief and a former thief must be prosecuted drastically so that investors can be encouraged to come and invest in Liberia. The most-talked-about yellow machine news is fast dying. When we asked who that friend of our president was who gave him those yellow machines, JNB could not tell us. One has to be a Poro-Society member to know the name of that individual.
Former Guinean President Alpha Condé old age inspired some members of his security forces to overthrow him quietly. Former Ghanaian President Kwamie Nkrumah was overzealous for the creation of the United States of Africa, forgetting to handle domestic affairs and dealing with issues affecting Ghanaians. He was overthrown by his security forces while on official visit to China. He had to be hosted by President Sekou Toure of Guinea, where he died in frustration. President Boakai must be very careful and concentrate more on the domestic fronts. The travel is not yielding anything.
My critique of bad governance is not conditioned or based on the sufferings of some Liberians, negative opinions from other, pay to talk or the corruption currently taking place in the country. Instead, it is a set of values instilled in me by my parents that energize me not to close my eyes on things that affect society and increase human suffering. I have observed that most Liberians believe in “stomach infrastructure” rather than the quality of ideas that people sprout out hoping they will be inspired to think rationally. But they will be suffering and still go publicly to defend and elect crafty criminals because of what they can eat.
President Boakai left the country for the U.S. to attend a business conference, but no Liberian Business Association (LIBA) member was present, causing a loss of business ties. His Vice President, Jeremiah Koung, was also out of the country at the same time to attend the 19th CII India-Africa Business Conclave in India, which excluded business executives, entrepreneurs, and LIBAs officials. The National Security Advisor to the President, the Minister of Justice, and the Inspector General of the Liberia National Police (LNP) were also out of the country simultaneously. Why did we critique former President Weah when he did exactly what JNB, and his people are doing? This situation poses a security risk to the country, especially when the country is left ungoverned. Given Liberia’s fragile peace, political divide, and lingering anger among 400 well-trained EPS officers, who were laid off by the Rescue Mission, including the uncertainties over the AFL for bad treatment, one needs to advise the President to take immediate caution. President Boaka needs to stop excessive travel and focus on the country’s domestic needs.
Besides, JNB once told us he was a parked old race car. An old race car, parked for 12 years under Ellen and 6 years under Weah, has depreciated significantly and is considered an old model race in 2024. It is not advisable to drive this race car at high speeds on the country’s deplorable roads. On Inauguration Day, the old car broke down at the capitol, causing chaos. I hope JNB takes this advice and stays in Liberia because when it gets on interstate or intercontinental express roads and breaks down, it will cost Liberia a lot of money to tow it back to Liberia for repair again. This is not about the old, parked race car!
Also, the Rescue Missionaries have not also presented a clear strategy for job creation, which could boost the economy and address the issue of youth unemployment. The Rescue Mission plan for short-, medium-, and long-term employment opportunities is missing. Why?
I often hear people say, “It is too soon to pressure the old man to solve the 1847 problems. The government has not gone more than one year yet, and you want him to rush with development.” Shut up! It is not also guaranteed that the longer a leader stays in power; things will get better or improve. If so, Africa should have become more developed than Europe, America, and Asia today because most African leaders have been in power for over 3 decades, and yet those countries are poor and dirty while poverty continues to destroy their citizens.
