Independent judiciary, a free press, liberty and a non-partisan government bureaucracy are essential for the proper functioning of a liberal democracy like ours.
For the 177 years that this country called Liberia has existed some or all of these ingredients of democracy have been lacking.
What Liberia have had in reality is a corrupt system governed by the all-powerful egocentric elites. They pilled the civil service with families, friends, loyalists, and weaponized public institution like the judiciary, the military and prosecutorial agencies against perceived enemies and the independent press.
Throughout the existence of this country the mass of our people have been left betrayed by their vote and compelled to live under a corrupt system governed by individuals who only pretend to care about ordinary people.
This raises the question of what people mean when they say: (a) “fundamental departure from the past;” (b) “not doing business as usual.”
The difference between “business as usual” and “not doing business as usual” in the context of democratic governance can be summarized as follows:
Business as Usual:
Maintaining the status quo in governance practices, policies, and decision-making processes. Continuing with the same institutional structures, bureaucratic procedures, and power dynamics that have been in place, often characterized by inefficiency, lack of accountability, and resistance to change.
Prioritizing the interests of entrenched political elites, special interest groups, or the ruling party over the broader public interest.- Perpetuating a culture of complacency, cronyism.
Not Doing Business as Usual:
This involves a fundamental shift away from the traditional, often opaque and unresponsive, practices of the past, towards a more transformative, inclusive, and accountable system of governance that truly serves the best interests of the people.
Here, Joseph Boakai – the incumbent President is an outlier. As Vice President and opposition leader Boakai created an image of a nationalistic character who cares about good governance, the rule of law and building vibrant public institutions and uphold moral standards.
His narrative about state and or nation building, integrity in the public space and operating a government based on merit, equality and democratic precepts was enticing to buy given his close to five decades presence in the upper echelon of government combined with the way he carried himself: decent, respected and trustworthy statesmen.
During the 2023 presidential race Boakai promised to form a government of national unity that will improve governance and fight corruption.
“To achieve these lofty goals, we need every Liberians and residents alike. I am convinced that all the talents and ideas we need to rebuild our country cannot be found in a single party, tribe, county, region or religion,” he said.
“That is why I am committed to forming a government of inclusion when we ultimately achieve our grand goal of democratically evicting President Weah from the Executive Mansion in a few weeks.
“We shall form a government that truly reflects the political, ethnic, regional, and religious, and gender diversity of our country. We shall form a government in which the true value of a Liberian is not determined by loyalty to party but by loyalty to country, competence and love for country.”
The voters listened and gave him the mandate. Six months later the story has changed and we have a different Joseph Boakai as President of the Republic of Liberia. His promises on good governance, for now are all “vlah,” a word found in the Liberian sociopolitical lexicon, meaning lies or mendacity.
For instance the Boakai administration is striking multimillion deal with unknown people for more than 200 earth moving equipment or ‘yellow machines’ for road construction and maintenance.
Nothing is clear about the procurement process and the nature of the agreement. The rest are subjects of inconsistency, doubts and secrecy. The only thing that is clear is that the President is negotiating to give the road equipment contract to certain “long-time friend.” Liberia’s public procurement and concession law prohibits business of such nature. This is corruption 101.
It is not uncommon that a Liberian President is pursuing such questionable deal. That Boakai, the ‘good governance czar’ is doing it, clearly shows fundamental continuation with business as usual.
Also the President’s chief electoral promise to form a government of national Unity remain a distance reality. Only loyalists and people who associated with his ruling Unity Party Alliance are favored for appointment in lucrative positions. Eliminating tenure positions and replacing holders with loyalists was amongst first set of decisions Boakai made in his opening days in office.
Besides, the House of Representatives and the Judiciary are complaining about the inadequate funding and unexplained withholding of benefits. Some lawmakers have to ride autorickshaw or “kekeh” to work in protest.
The Chief Justice has threatened a constitutional crisis just like the House Speaker who vowed government shutdown. Democracy is not healthy when public institutions are undermined.
In a properly functioning democracy, voters elect politicians who represent national interests as opposed to personal interests. The moral obligation for political leaders in a democratic sphere is to seek and provide for the welfare of people who voted for them, voted against them and people who didn’t vote at all.
This cardinal responsibility also engraved in the 1986 Constitutional is an essential prescription for the stability, peace, unity and prosperity of the nation-state Liberia.
Boakai with his vast experience in public sector governance should use the mandate given to him by the people of Liberia to rebuild public institutions including a professional civil service that is partisan blind.
