By Festus Poquie
Former Finance and Development Planning Minister Samuel Tweah accuse President Joseph Boakai and the ruling Unity Party (UP) of governing Liberia on the economic template of their predecessor, George Weah, saying the current administration has reversed gains made under the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC).
In a Facebook post posted over the Christmas period, Tweah argued that Liberians were deceived into believing the CDC’s removal would bring a new “golden age.”
He said the Boakai administration has not done that and lacks distinct policy on the national economy.
Current socio-economic programs like road and electricity amount to a continuation — not a departure from former President Weah’s policies, Tweah said.
He highlighted what he described as signs of backward movement under the UP, citing reports that instructors at the University of Liberia (UL) went without pay for Christmas for a second consecutive year. He quoted UL instructor Eric Patten, who told journalist Julius Jeh that UL families had been “begging for Xmas” while pay was withheld.
“Is this the same UL whose instructor’s salary President Weah raised by more than 60 percent? Is this the same UL where President Weah launched free tuition that has enabled more than 10,000 Liberians to gain higher education annually?” Tweah asked in the post, contrasting past CDC policies such as faculty pay increases and tuition initiatives with current conditions.
Tweah also said public school teachers are owed three months’ salary and criticized explanations from the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) that the delays were due to “technical or systems issues.” He noted that the UP previously denounced similar explanations when the CDC cited them for payroll delays.
Defending the CDC’s record, Tweah said the party had navigated “macroeconomic turbulence” and the COVID-19 onset to produce what he called a “macroeconomic miracle,” a foundation he said the current “Arrest Agenda” government is now undermining.
He pointed to the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact as evidence of the CDC’s accomplishments.
George Weah’s presidency (2018-2024) left Liberia’s economy struggling with rising debt, inflation, high unemployment, and accusations of widespread corruption, despite inheriting challenges and promising reforms.
Under the new administration, the economy remains weak burdened by these same issues: slow growth, high unemployment, corruption and continued governance fragility.
The International Monetary Fund in Octobert, cut Liberia’s 2025 growth forecast to 4.6% from 5.6% projected in February.
The Fund said real GDP growth in 2024 was 4.0%, down from 4.6% in 2023. Inflation also accelerated sharply, rising to 10.7% in 2025 from 8.2% the previous year.
The Washington based lender projects the economy will grow 5.4% in 2026, driven by expected expansion in mining activity—particularly gold and iron ore and a recovery in agricultural production.
