By George S Tengbeh
The voice of Liberiaโs workers must be heard clearly: no luxury should ever take precedence over their dignity, timely salaries, and fair wages.ย Five Questions for Minister Cooper Kruah and the Government of Liberia.
- Why should a $45,000 vehicle be prioritized over the payment of workers who have gone months without salaries?
- How does this decision align with the harsh reality of employees struggling below the minimum wage threshold?
- In what way does riding in a 2025 Ford Everest SUV make the Minister of Labour more capable of hearing workersโ voices?
- Why does a government that once claimed modesty, with President Boakai declaring he could โride a wheelbarrow to the Executive Mansionโ, now endorse decisions of luxury?
- What message does this send to Liberiaโs workforce, whose sweat and sacrifices sustain the nationโs economy?
๐ ๐ข๐ง๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐๐ฑ๐ญ
Following investigations and clarifications from the Ministry of Labour and other reliable sources, it has been confirmed that Minister of Labour Cooper Kruah purchased a 2025 Ford Everest valued at US$45,000, reportedly following a request from President Joseph Boakai.
While documentation of this procurement has been provided, the issue is not legality; it is morality and responsibility. Liberia faces an inflation rate near 10%, widespread food insecurity, and systemic salary delays across ministries and agencies. Workers are struggling to survive, not watching to see their leaders indulge in comfort.
As we speak, qualified workers at the Ministry of Labour are still below the minimum wage. Qualified workers with supportive education experience are below the salaries required for their employment.
๐๐ข๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ค๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ง๐๐๐:
- Timely Salaries, ending months of unpaid wages.
- Living Wages, revising the minimum wage to match economic realities.
- Safe and Fair Workplaces, with real protections and collective bargaining rights.
- Leadership by Example, where ministers demonstrate humility and solidarity with those they serve.
๐๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ
This decision is nonsense and an insult to the labour force of Liberia. Workers deserve leaders who share their struggles, not those who drive away in luxury while employees go unpaid and underpaid. Every dollar spent on a luxury vehicle for a minister is a dollar stolen from the dignity and well-being of Liberian workers.
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐ง๐ฌ?
I therefore call on the Government of Liberia to realign spending priorities affecting the Ministry of Labour and put workers first. The Legislature, to exercise oversight on government procurement to curb extravagance.
Civil Society & Labour Unions, to remain vocal and uncompromising in holding leaders accountable, given these times of misery against our country’s people. The workers of Liberia are not asking for their minister to drive a $45,000 Ford Everest to hear their cries. They are asking for respect, salaries, and justice.
Liberia deserves leadership that reflects humility, accountability, and service, not luxury at the expense of its struggling workforce.
Thinking beyond the horizons
George Sahr Tengbeh
Labour and Environmental Justice Advocate
E: gstengbeh@gmail.com WhatsApp: +231880767070
