By George S. Tengbeh | Labor Activist & Governance Researcher
“Sometimes we teach for six months with no salary. But they have millions for elections?”
— A public school teacher in Sanniquellie
Nimba Votes, Liberia Bleeds
As Liberia prepared and concluded the voting processes for yet another costly senatorial by-election in Nimba County triggered by the death of Senator Prince Y. Johnson, citizens are raising hard questions about leadership, priorities, and the country’s fiscal future. The National Elections Commission (NEC) has earmarked over US$2.5 million for this single election with US 2 million approved by the legislature. (inquirernewspaper.com).
Yet across the country, clinics lack medicine, schools remain underfunded, and youth joblessness rises. Meanwhile, the government continues to support a political culture that encourages sitting lawmakers to contest higher office mid-term, creating costly vacancies and triggering repeated elections.
A Nation in Crisis, A Leadership in Denial
“This is more than mismanagement — this is witchcraft.”
— Josephine K., businesswoman, Ganta
In towns and villages across Nimba, citizens express frustration. For them, the just-ended by-election and pending vacancy that could be created if Representative Samuel Kogar is elected as senator is not democracy in action, it’s a betrayal of basic needs. From Tappita to Yekepa, the question is the same: why must our suffering fund political ambition?
Interestingly, I spoke with one of the youth coordinators and he had this to say bluntly “Most candidates aren’t presenting real development plans. They speak in slogans, not policies,” he said. “Meanwhile, we need jobs, skills training, and opportunity, not another two-million-dollar circus.” Is he right, of course, I cannot argue more. Are we in a serious leadership crisis, YES!
The Cost of Political Recycling
Liberians have grown weary of the practice where sitting lawmakers abandon their posts mid-term to pursue Senate seats. Representative Samuel Kogar’s current candidacy is a prime example: should he win, his House seat will be vacated, triggering yet another by-election, and another multimillion-dollar drain (inquirernewspaper.com).
This political relay has become a budgetary disaster. Liberia is now trapped in a cycle of spending precious funds on elections while key sectors like health, agriculture, and education are starved.
No Money for Teachers, But Millions for Ballots
“Our women are raped, our girls give birth in pain, our hospitals lack medicine — yet we’re spending millions to fill a Senate seat.”
—Yaah Suah, Gender analyst, Nimba
Madam Suah’s powerful words reflect the harsh trade-offs Liberians now face. In rural clinics, women give birth without proper care. In towns like Zorgowee and Graie, farmers beg for tools and support while children walk miles to attend broken schools.
Marian Z. Quoi from CENTAL warns that without transparency and public consultation, policy-making loses legitimacy. “Asset declaration should be mandatory for all candidates,” she insists. “Without it, there is no accountability, only illusion.”
What Could $2.5 Million Do Instead?
- Fund technical skills training for 10,000+ youth
- Provide learning materials for 100 rural schools
- Equip 50 clinics with essential drugs
- Support women-led agriculture in all 15 counties
These aren’t hypotheticals, they’re missed opportunities. Every unnecessary by-election redirects funds that could transform lives into transactions that sustain political power.
The World Is Watching, and So Are We
The international development community has taken note. With USAID projects shutting down and the MCC Compact at risk due to poor governance performance indicators, Liberia’s partners are rethinking their support. This is not the result of “Western conspiracy”, it is the natural reaction to a government failing its people.
What Liberia Can Learn From Others
Rwanda
Through proportional representation and a consolidated electoral system, Rwanda reduced unnecessary elections and focused on public investment. Today, it leads Africa in healthcare access and digital transformation.
Costa Rica
This Central American nation abolished its army to fund education and healthcare. Elections are held sparingly, with tight budgets and transparent processes.
Botswana
By discouraging mid-term resignations and maintaining a disciplined fiscal policy, Botswana has built one of Africa’s strongest democratic and economic reputations.
What do these countries share? Political discipline, electoral efficiency, and citizen-focused governance.
Stop Blaming the West and Start Fixing the System
Liberia’s poverty is not solely the legacy of colonialism or aid dependency. It is also the result of a leadership class more interested in ballots than budgets, in titles rather than transformation.
This is a hard truth, but one we must confront if we are ever to break the cycle.
End: From Ballots to Basics
“Our future will not be decided in ballot boxes alone. It will be built in classrooms, clinics, and farms.”
— George S. Tengbeh
As Nimba votes, let this not be another page in Liberia’s long book of missed chances. Let it be a turning point, the moment we demand that elections serve people, not politicians.
Let Liberia rise not through repeated ballots, but through restored budgets, empowered citizens, and leadership that listens.
Author Bio: George S. Tengbeh is a Water management & climate change expert, governance opionist, Lecturer at the University of Liberia, labor policy advocate, and columnist with Oracle Daily. He writes on issues of equity, climate change, human resources, sustainable development, accountability, and African development through labor reform.
Follow George: @TengbehWrites | @OracleDailyLiberia | on FB@georgesahrtengbeh.
