Liberia: Boakai “Ungrateful”?

President George Weah has publicly labeled former Vice President, Joseph Boakai, as “ungrateful” for allegedly showing ingratitude toward his government. 

Weah, who faces a major challenge from Boakai for the presidency, has claimed on a campaign trail that his administration has gone out of its way to provide assistance and support to his main political rival, only to be met with what he described as “unappreciative behavior”. 

At the heart of Weah’s accusations is the paying of the “hospital bill” and provision of cars for the former Vice President, which is his entitlement per Liberian laws having honorably retired. 

However, despite acting in accordance with the laws, Weah contends that the purchase was made as a gesture of goodwill, aimed at facilitating Boakai's activities and ensuring his continued engagement in national affairs. 

“In our government, we are very kind people because when Boakai gets sick, we take him to the hospital,” Weah told a crowd of voters over the weekend as he canvassed for their votes. “We got new vehicles for him, but he doesn’t inform you or tell you when we buy things for him, and today he says my government is corrupt.

“So where did we take the money to give Boakai the two cars? Because if you say I’m corrupt and you accept gifts, then you are also corrupt. Don’t let them fool you. [You are] ungrateful.” he added.

Weah’s remarks come as Executive Order 97, which his predecessor, former President Sirleaf, promulgated in 2017, with some provisions remaining in force, among other things, “mandates the state to provide the former president and vice president two vehicles and chauffeur each, VIP protection with EPS and police officers, logistics, and allowances, among others.’

Also, the country’s 2003 pension act demands that former Presidents and Vice Presidents who are honorably retired and not gainfully employed with the government be provided not just pension but staffing, security, and transportation for the rest of their lives.

It is based on these two acts that Weah’s predecessor, Sirleaf, is still being provided state support as mandated by law — same with Boakai, who is not gainfully employed with the government and honorably retired after losing to Weah in the 2017 elections. 

While it is unclear as to why Weah has decided to consider provision for medical and logistics support to Boakai as a “goodwill gesture”, his position comes as both men engage in ‘derogatory’ politics instead of focusing more on policy issues.

Boakai has some time ago publicly labeled Weah inept, leading to Weah replying with several jibes including the latest. 

According to political analysts, the politics being pursued by Weah and Boakai, which is geared towards making each other look ugly, has far-reaching consequences as it hinders substantive discussions on policy issues. 

As a result, analysts claim voters may base their decisions on emotions, identity, or superficial factors rather than informed analysis of each candidate’s plans for addressing challenges such as healthcare, education, and the economy.

Meanwhile, the Boakai campaign spokesman has reacted to Weah’s claims saying that support for Boakai is a requirement by law and not “President Weah's money.”

“This is a misquote from the President because the vehicle is a requirement of the government,” Mohammed Ali noted. “Where did President Weah take money from to buy a vehicle for the former vice president? 

There is nothing to be grateful for. He’s given the country to manage and he can’t properly manage the country and he wants people to be grateful to him for what,” Ali told the Daily Observer via telephone conversation.

In another development, Weah has accused the former vice president of failing to keep his promise made after the 2011 elections — that he would not contest anymore”, but joining his former boss, former President Sirleaf, to retire and “allow the young people to lead.”

However, President Weah did not provide any evidence to support his claim.  He then claimed that while his rival has “40 years government” experience, he has failed to “develop himself”; as such, he should not talk about development but “give the young people the time to lead and develop Liberia.”

“If you say that Weah has done nothing then what are you going to do?” Weah asked.”If you are not going to build roads, provide free education, increase salaries, build hospitals then what are you going to do for the people.”

“During our time it was difficult to go to school and so, what happened to us didn't happen to you. This is why students today are writing WAEC free, and go to school free and we want to do more for you.

“The people say I know nothing but I have done something," the President said. "The man they claimed that knows nothing is the man that is giving you a better future. This is our time and this is our moment “

Weah then claimed that his administration has done more development,  including building more hospitals than "any president in the history of Liberia."

“The George Weah they claimed knows nothing can pave the roads in your community. He’s able to delete the huts and build concrete buildings for the people in the villages for the people to live better lives," Weah added. “If you will not know me by the eloquence of my speeches, you will know by the work I will do."

However, Weah did not cite data or reports to back his claim as the most developed president of Liberia. 

The Unity Party government of Sirleaf built more kilometers of road than his government which is boasting of being the best in the country’s 177 years of history.

Also, nearly all of the major public high schools and hospitals were built in the 60s and 70.