Why Liberia’s President Weah must go (democratically)
Liberia’s disaffected citizens are more than justified in hoping that the 10 October election brings change.
If a blind man threatens to stone you, assume he already wields the first pebble.
This local adage permeated national politics in Liberia six years ago when George Weah, the proverbial “blind man” in question, was elected president amidst a tidal wave of anti-intellectualism. Since then, the football-phenomenon-turned-politician has pelted my country and its people with subpar leadership. Were he to secure a second mandate in Liberia’s fourth post-war general and presidential elections on 10 October, there will be nothing left of the country to salvage. It will shrink into a hollow shell of its former self.
During his inaugural speech in January 2018, President Weah vowed to transform “the lives of all Liberians”, yet he failed to convert his clunky campaign slogan, Change for Hope, into concrete wins. Liberia’s disaffected citizens are now hoping for (regime) change through the democratic process and they are justified.
Weah’s gaffes are so numerous that a member of the opposition urged voters to issue him a red card for abysmal performance. The president refused to publicly declare his assets upon taking office and ignored calls for his political appointees to follow suit. He prioritised loyalty over competence by populating key government agencies with sycophants who have no track record of delivery, particularly in the strategic areas of finance and economic planning, foreign and maritime affairs, port management, commerce and industry, public works and energy. And rather than confronting Liberia’s decades of “negative peace” President Weah neglected to establish a war and economic crimes court despite empty pledges to do so.
His administration’s mismanagement compelled Liberia to adopt IMF-backed austerity measures, euphemistically referred to as “harmonisation“, that slashed civil servant salaries. Even before the economic shocks catalysed by COVID-19 and Russia’s war in Ukraine, Liberia’s ballooning debt and currency depreciation left most citizens in the lurch.
Although our cash-based national budget increased from $570 million in 2018 to $783 million in 2023, the lion’s share was earmarked for recurring expenditures such as government salaries and operations, with most growth projections based on resource extraction without value addition. Weah’s administration defied environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles by pursuing dubious contracts shrouded in secrecy, the most recent being a proposed carbon credit deal with the United Arab Emirates that will pawn 10% of the country’s territory.
He promised to “weed out the menace of corruption”, however greed and graft have become the hallmarks of his presidency. For example, Weah’s ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) is fronting two candidates for the national legislature who were sanctioned by the US Department of Treasury for “ongoing public corruption” during their stints as heads of government agencies. Auditors have died mysteriously under Weah’s watch and he conspired with members of the legislature and judiciary to unceremoniously impeach a dissenting Supreme Court justice, thus holding the highest court captive.
In effect, Weah has weaponised the Supreme Court and National Elections Commission (NEC) against Liberia’s citizenry. It is no wonder, then, that the top four opposition presidential candidates I interviewed in July have lost faith in the neutrality and credibility of these two so-called arbiters of electoral disputes.
Acquitted by the Supreme Court for starting voter registration without demarcating electoral constituencies as stipulated in a 2022 national population census, the NEC has proven to be nothing more than a personalist mouthpiece of the president.
Questions continue to linger about the validity of a biometric voter registration (BVR) process marred by severe delays and technical glitches, especially after the NEC’s decision to uphold manual voting in October. Equally concerning was its announcement about funding gaps for a probable rematch between Weah and former vice-president Joseph Boakai in a run-off. Long before the NEC came under fire for stalling the release of a final voter registration roll prior to elections, which is a statutory obligation, public confidence in the institution had already waned.
The electoral referee’s antics may indicate Weah’s intention to use the power and purse of the presidency to massage election results in his favour.
Tellingly, we have witnessed how the recent spate of coups in West and Central Africa reveal a rot from the top, of leaders who cling to power illegitimately when they should bow out gracefully. Yet, while military takeovers rarely end well, the machinations of an embattled head of state in Liberia could be equally destabilising, as political coups in neighbouring Guinea, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Sierra Leone have demonstrated.
Amidst electrifying euphoria, Weah’s die-hard supporters expected him to transform his fancy footwork on the football field into a presidency that fulfils promises. They expected him to translate the rhetoric of being Liberia’s first self-professed “feminist-in-chief” into advancements for women and girls. They expected him to take one for the team by admitting his errors and reversing course, especially after bruising losses in mid-term senatorial elections and a botched referendum.
Instead, President Weah squandered practically every opportunity to score the country’s most important goal of socio-economic transformation. He heaped all of the challenges inherited from predecessor Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, a controversial darling of the West, and dug Liberia into a deeper hole of poverty and inequality.
Weah is a cautionary tale of the dangers of populist leaders who have emerged across the globe and the disastrous consequences of Africa’s governance deficits. Although Liberia’s opposition failed to coalesce under one ticket to defeat the incumbent decisively, they all agree he is undeserving of a second term. With rhetorical vows to “rescue”, “fix”, “sweep”, and “renew” Liberia, these candidates have characterised Weah as an existential threat.
And, so, there is little doubt that 10 October will be a referendum on the president. While on the campaign trail, he boasts of his “pro-poor agenda for prosperity and development”, touting successes such as the elimination of high school exam and public university fees, the paving of roads and building of hospitals. Yet, Weah has consistently evaded public debates about his overall record in office, no doubt because he would be found wanting.
A popular song in Liberia, “Dumyanea”, aka “that’s my area”, celebrates individuals’ proficiencies in specific domains of life ranging from the mundane to the consequential. Weah demonstrates an aptitude for sport and music, yes, but the presidency is clearly not his area.
I hope Liberians remind him of this on 10 October. Because when a blind man threatens to stone you, he most likely will.
Wow! That was revealing Robtel
This is the typical election year article. George Weah will win decisively simple because Liberian are greedy and have no love for their country. These potboiler articles are as useless as the minds from which they were generated. Mark my word, Weah will be re-elected. Greed is what dismantled the so call opposition block and greed will continue to take Liberia further into the abyss of nothingness.
How will you reconcile this piece in the face of the several successes of the government which you left out, to include these few:
1. Increased access to national power grid more than ever before in history and reduction of electricity cost, considering all the areas that these are affecting in the economy and social life of the people.
2. Making all public universities and communities colleges across the country tuition free.
3. Government paying 9 and 12 graders’ WASCE fees
4. Construction of over 1000 low cost housing not in Montserrado alone but across the country
5. Construction of over 600 km of roads, including over 250km of primary roads
6. Construction of the modern Omega Market, Duala Market, Old Road market and several markets across the country
8. Construction of the Hospital in Gbarpolu, the 14th Military Hospital, the ongoing expansion of Redemption the ongoing construction of about with medical facilities in Riverscess, Grand Gedeh, etc
9. Subsidizing rice for several years to keep the price at a minimal low than our neighbors
10. Increasing doctors salary from 750usd to 2000+.
11. Making sure all public officials salaries were cut and the monies used for funding of projects.
12. Collaborate with donors to increase agriculture productivity to its highest recorded level in the history of Liberia through the provision of seed funding to over 60k farmers, provision of mechanical tools, construction of two rice mills, etc.?
When you write, you must be balanced even if you want to go against. But this piece does not do justice. It is far below the belt and just a propaganda write-up that lacks the elementary substance for a good evaluative article.
Sorry, you could have done better. I don’t wish to write a full rebuttal to deal with your claims raised in this piece. Outlining some of the successes of this government which you totally ignored in oder to paint it black is sufficient to show your dishonesty.
Bye
Great analysis of Liberia past and current state. I am a Liberian, living abroad. I plan to return home in 2024. I am disappointed in our current government. Liberian citizens must understand that the power is in their hands, not in the hands of corrupt politicians. Thank you.
Liberians vote based on two key factors:
1) to prove a point… (be it rational or irrational, but mostly the latter)
2) to stop the rumbling sound of their bellies.
How I wish Ivor S. Moore was living in Liberia to enjoy the falsehood written in this comment section. Where is the 1,000 housing units and the 600km roads? Have you ever been to Duala and Omega Markets? Do you know why they are failed project? Do you know why 90% of civil servants are voting against Weah? Have you visited any of the free tuition colleges and universities? Don’t be misled, Weah will be voted out by angry voters who are in the majority because he failed the Liberian people. Increased access to power grid was a work in progress and Weah and his government even delayed this progress because they misappropriated donors funds which is why the government is not in good books with donors. Check your facts, we live in Liberia and live failed state daily.
Ivor S. Moore, you clearly did not read my commentary carefully because I covered your points 2, 3, 5 and 11 briefly, although your description of 11 is inaccurate. My commentary is not a journalistic article, it is an opinion-editorial, which means that I am entitled to my opinion. If you disagree with my arguments, by all means, take the time that I did to pen your own op-ed in favour of Weah.
Thank you Robtel. I could not agree more.
I appreciate how this article is written not because it comes from an open mind and learned patriot but the literature looks deep beyond the horizon.
Uncle Ivor S. Moore
The Doctors are paid by GOL and the last time I checked Civil Servants salary and incentives was harmonised by the Government. This lying with confidence can no longer work, the effects of the harmonization triggered down to the people in the villages. Many of those people depend on assistance from their families who are Civil Servants, you can only guess what happened to them when the harmonization took place. Liberia is not Montserrado County alone, you all were to full of yourselves and not listening to anything others had to say because they were not CDCIANS. Remember, power is inherent in the people!
The problem of Liberia needs serious and responsible leadership. Thank you so much for the analysis.
Liberians need to decide if their children future are worth fighting for on November 14. This election will determine if we are capable to use our votes to make a difference in our country.
Mohammed, except for the period between ’93-’97 when I was in exile in Guinea, I have been in Liberia all my life. You are the one writing things are those you are afar.