By George S Tengbeh
The voice of Liberia’s workers must be heard clearly: no luxury should ever take precedence over their dignity, timely salaries, and fair wages. 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 workers’ voices?
- Why does a government that once claimed modesty, with President Boakai declaring he could “ride a wheelbarrow to the Executive Mansion”, now endorse decisions of luxury?
- What message does this send to Liberia’s workforce, whose sweat and sacrifices sustain the nation’s economy?
𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐱𝐭
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.
𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝:
- 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.
𝐌𝐲 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫
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.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐬?
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
