There is an old saying, ” Liberian politicians are gravy seekers,” they seem to hang their clothes wherever the sun would rise from and shine brighter.’ Once they are in office, they soon forget their contractual obligation to their constituents – to serve the people interests above their own. For example, in 2017 when members of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) were resoundingly voted into office with President George Weah leading the charge, they promised change from the previous administration of ex-President Ellen Sirleaf Johnson. They promised to lift Liberians out of poverty, transparency in their governance, development and many more.
So far, the only development Liberians have seen is the enrichment of CDC elected officials lead by President Weah. Immediately after Weah was sworn into office the economy tanked. Instead of Weah investing into projects that would create jobs, he demolished his US$150,000 9th Street beachside property and spend millions of dollars to build luxurious estates across Liberia for his family and friends (where that money came from only God knows).
Other elected officials followed Weah’s lead, building their mansions and enjoying their cushion paychecks, as they rubber stamped policies and turned a blind eye to actions that further brought Liberia into poverty and on the brink of collapse. The 16.5bn Liberian dollars of currency disappeared from the port; mismanagement of 25 million US dollar cash injection into the economy; the fuel shortages; the selling of Liberian passports to foreigners and many more scandals plague Liberia.
Under the guise of these politicians elected in 2017, Liberians face even greater poverty than ever before. Mothers cannot afford to send their children to school let alone feed them. The jobless rate is at its highest leading to an increase in youth drug use, further destroying Liberia’s future. Even the civil servants are taking a beating, with the government refusing to pay them at the same time cutting their pay. On the streets, Liberians who once could not wait for President Weah to take office now cry for the good old days of ex-President Ellen Johnson, “at least we had something to eat” said Solomon, a local tailor.
On December 8, 2020, again voters went to the polls and elected their Senators and Representatives in the by-elections. Many CDC supporters, disfranchised by the current government, chose to break away from CDC and vote members of the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) into office. Two notable races were the Senatorial races in the counties of Bomi and Montserrado. In Bomi County, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives and the candidate of the governing CDC, was defeated by Representative Edwin Snowe. And in Montserrado, Abraham Darius Dillon, held on to his elected seat despite alleged voter tampering by the CDC.
Will the elected CPP members be a beacon of hope of what a public servant should be or will they deceive the Liberian people to enrich themselves, following the lead of their previous cohort – “hanging their clothes wherever the sun would rise from and shine brighter,” even to the detriment of those that entrusted them with their votes. Only time will tell.
