President George Weah has questioned the leadership ability of his main rival for the presidency, former Vice President Joseph Boakai.
Weah believes that Boakai is a failed politician who has nothing to offer the Liberian people after squandering his opportunities for the 12 years he served as vice president.
The President, while addressing a crowd of supporters at his party headquarters, in Congo Town, claimed that Boakai’s mantra of coming to ‘rescue’ the country is questionable when his administration has achieved so much — some of which — he says the former vice president had criticized for nothing.
“What are they coming to rescue when they told you that they squandered their opportunity they had?” Weah asked as he questioned Boakai’s rescue mantra on June 13. “What are they coming to do when they said that free education and building roads is not the right thing to do? Ask them, what are you coming to do.”
“We are the change. They are not. Remember we all stood on the grounds and they walked away,” Weah said. “Because we believe in the doctrine of saving our people so we stayed right here and here we are today and here we will be tomorrow and we will be victorious.”
Weah’s remarks that Boakai’s squandering opportunity is in reference to a statement made by the former Vice President during the 2017 presidential debate, in which he claimed that the Unity Party government under Ellen Johnson Sirleaf — whom he served as vice president — would have done a lot but failed because opportunities “were squandered”.
However, the President assailing Boakai is just the beginning of more to come as both men mount serious fights for the Presidency come October 10.
Boakai, who has been cross-cutting communities in Montserrado of late, has not backed away from criticizing the President who he claimed is “corrupt and unfit to be president.”
And as the election draws closer, both men are expected to engage in a closely contested race with accusations and counter-accusations flying as they vie for an edge in the upcoming elections.
About 4.5 million voters in Liberia are expected to choose who becomes the country’s next president. The elections experts say is a choice of continuity or change with the outcomes expected to shape the future trajectory of the country and its leadership.
The President, who massively defeated Boakai, who was then a Vice President in 2017 during the Unity Party government going to the elections with mixed achievement records, particularly issues that have to do with the cost-of-living crisis, which has to do with skyrocketing exchange rate and increase in poverty.
However, Weah has some gains to boost on the infrastructure front with some of the country’s major highways being constructed as well as some significant investment in health in terms of the construction of quality hospitals and training of medical professionals.
One major gain, which the President had been boasting about, is his stewardship of an economy that has churned out steady growth in the last two years, reducing inflation significantly.
In 2021, the Liberia economy made a strong recovery after a three-year economic crisis, as a result of the government’s priority policies that led to macroeconomic stability, ensuring a comfortable international reserve position, and maintaining debt sustainability.
Growth softened to 3.7% in 2022 and is projected to reach 5.2% in 2023 with inflation projected at 7.2% or ending in a double-digit as the election pushed the exchange rate up, with the Liberian dollar depreciating.
Additionally, another crucial policy achievement that the President had been touting is the payment of the West African Examination Council (WAEC) fees for all 12th-grade students, regardless of the school, as well as the provision of free tuition to public university students.
This policy has significantly lessened the financial burden on many parents who struggle to pay for their children’s tuition and school fees.
Overall, while there are still challenges to face, the President and his administration have made notable strides in improving the Liberian economy and education system.
Meanwhile Boakai, a soft-spoken politician, has been hampering Weah on the economy by faulting the President for the sharp rise in poverty in the country, which has risen since 2021 by at least 51%.
But Weah believes that whatever his opponent says will not stop him from winning the election as the Liberian people believe that his administration “is the best since 1847.”
“This government is the best since 1847 and if you want me to prove it, I can outline things we have done. This government built more hospitals than any other government, this government gave free Education, paved every road in the interiors and cities so you can see that your government is the best,” he said.
The President added that his government will leave a remarkable legacy during its second term as he rallies his party leadership to join him for them to finish what they have started. Source: Dailly Observer online
