Boakai Gov’t is a disaster for Liberia

By: Edwin N. Khakie

In a fiery condemnation of the current Liberian administration, Representative Musa Hassan Bility, political leader of the Citizens Movement for Change (CMC) and Chairman of the Rule of Law Caucus in the House of Representatives, has branded the government of President Joseph Nyumah Boakai as a “complete disaster” for the Liberian people.

Speaking to journalists in Gbarnga, Bong County, on June 12, 2025, Rep. Bility did not mince words in his blistering assessment of the Unity Party-led government.

He accused President Boakai of presiding over a worsening socio-economic crisis, failing to deliver on campaign promises made during the 2023 general and presidential elections.

“Liberians are suffering. And nothing has changed under the Boakai-Koung government, despite the promises they made to the Liberian people,” Bility said.

According to the Nimba County District #7 lawmaker, the Boakai administration has not only failed to ease the economic burdens of ordinary Liberians but has also exhibited authoritarian tendencies, including a willingness to suppress dissent and manipulate institutions to remain in power.

“Those who govern are so desperate to cling to power that they would crush any voice, rewrite any truth, and spend the country’s soul just to stay in charge,” Bility added.

Rep. Bility also highlighted what he termed the administration’s alarming failure to tackle systemic corruption and uphold the rule of law. He expressed concern over what he perceives as selective justice, political intimidation, and the growing politicization of the country’s justice system.

“The institutions of democracy are being undermined,” Bility asserted. “Instead of strengthening transparency and accountability, we are witnessing the rise of a government more interested in vengeance than governance.”

These strong accusations come at a time of heightened political tension, as several opposition parties, including the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), the Alternative National Congress (ANC), the Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE), and Bility’s own CMC, have united in criticism of the Boakai administration.

The criticism follows the controversial arrest and detention of former House Speaker Jonathan Fonati Koffa and several lawmakers. The group is facing a slew of serious charges, including arson, criminal conspiracy, attempted murder, and criminal facilitation.

Opposition leaders argue that the charges are politically motivated and are being used to silence critics of the government. The four-party opposition coalition has issued a joint statement demanding the immediate and unconditional release of the detained lawmakers, calling the move an “assault on democracy.”

“This is not about justice—it’s about silencing opposition voices,” one senior ANC official told reporters on condition of anonymity.

Across the country, public frustration appears to be growing. Despite high hopes for a new beginning under President Boakai—who came to power with a promise to restore integrity, economic stability, and good governance—many citizens now say those promises remain unfulfilled.

Inflation remains high, youth unemployment is rampant, and basic public services such as healthcare and electricity remain largely inaccessible to large swathes of the population.

“The people of Liberia voted for change, not chains,” Rep. Bility said. “Instead of moving forward, we are watching our nation slide backward under a government that is rapidly losing legitimacy.”

However, analysts believe the mounting pressure from opposition leaders, civil society, and frustrated citizens may force the administration to respond more assertively to concerns over corruption, governance, and political justice.

For many Liberians, the question remains: Will the Boakai administration rise to the occasion, or will it go down in history as another failed leadership experiment?