In a scathing response to President Joseph Boakai’s second State of the Nation Address, civil society group Solidarity and Trust for a New Day (STAND) has labeled the President’s remarks as “mythical” and disconnected from the harsh realities facing the Liberian populace.
The organization asserts that Boakai’s claims of success and progress are nothing more than a facade, attempting to mask the grave economic, healthcare, and security crises afflicting the country.
STAND, one of Liberia’s prominent civil society organizations, expressed deep disappointment in the address, which they argue was rife with “delusional and self-congratulatory” rhetoric. The organization detailed how Boakai’s administration has failed to address rampant corruption, crippling economic conditions, and a deteriorating healthcare system in its first year in power.
“While President Boakai and his advisors bask in an echo chamber of scripted praise, the brutal truth remains: Liberia is drowning in economic despair and a collapsing healthcare system,” stated a spokesperson for STAND. The organization’s report highlighted that Boakai’s so-called commitments to restoring integrity and fighting corruption have instead led to a government marked by political negligence and deception.
Key components of the President’s “Refocus and Rebrand to Rescue” campaign, launched with promises of infrastructure development and economic reform, have reportedly failed to materialize. Specific claims, such as ensuring that “no vehicle hitches” on poor road conditions during his first 100 days, have been met with stark contradictions from many Liberians still grappling with impassable roads and broken promises.
Furthermore, STAND pointed out the galloping crisis in Liberia’s healthcare sector, which Boakai downplayed in his address. The group highlighted that hospitals remain underfunded and poorly equipped, with health workers often having to use their personal resources for basic necessities. The alarming reality of child mortality rates and malnourished children starkly contrasts the President’s narrative of improvement, it alleges.
STAND also criticized the administration for its handling of corruption. Despite acknowledging that corruption is a formidable challenge in Liberia, the organization noted that the Boakai government’s accountability measures have been largely ineffective, with no real prosecution of high-ranking officials implicated in scandals. “His administration has perfected the art of deception, looting, and negligence while ordinary Liberians suffer,” they stated.
Adding to the critique, STAND addressed the failure to deliver on promises made to the nation’s youth and women, with unemployment rates climbing and no real initiatives for empowerment being implemented. “Instead of genuine policies that drive sustainable job creation, Boakai’s government has resorted to empty rhetoric,” the group lamented.
The civil society organization is calling for urgent reform and accountability in liberating Liberia from the grips of corruption and ineffectiveness. They emphasized the need for meaningful actions rather than mere political theater, urging the government to engage in an honest self-assessment of its performance.