Liberians continue to endure economic hardship while their president indulges in extravagance. The country is in a dire state, roads are crumbling, hospitals lack basic supplies, schools are falling apart, and yet, President Joseph Boakai has prioritized luxury brand vehicles and private jet rides over national development. This is the stark reality of Liberia under Boakai’s leadership.
Our government cries for foreign aid, pleading with the United States for financial support, yet those same leaders see no problem in squandering public funds on personal comfort. The recent news that Liberia has been deemed eligible for the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact was met with celebration in government circles. But what exactly are we celebrating? That we need another round of foreign aid while our own money is wasted on unnecessary luxuries? That Washington sees Liberia as a country still incapable of managing its own affairs responsibly? This is not an achievement; it is an indictment of Liberia’s failed governance and misplaced priorities.
Boakai’s preference for opulence at 80 is both troubling and shameful. One would expect that at his age, he would focus on leaving behind a legacy of discipline and financial prudence, but instead, he continues to indulge in high-end vehicles and lavish trips while the country drowns in poverty. It is an insult to hardworking Liberians who struggle daily to make ends meet. If there is money available for luxury SUVs and extravagant travel, why isn’t there money for fixing broken infrastructure, improving healthcare, and paying civil servants on time? This is nothing short of a betrayal of the people who entrusted him with leadership.
The streets of Monrovia tell the real story: children selling cold water in traffic, mothers hustling to provide one meal a day, and graduates roaming the streets unemployed. Meanwhile, Boakai cruises around in his high-end Lexus, shielded from the very poverty his government should be fighting to eliminate. What kind of leadership is this? It is disgraceful that a nation as rich in natural resources as Liberia remains dependent on foreign assistance because of reckless government spending and corruption.
Leadership is not defined by the number of luxury cars in a convoy or the size of the security detail. A leader’s true security should come from the trust and well-being of the people. Boakai’s administration has failed to recognize this basic truth, instead choosing to follow the same reckless spending habits of past governments. The justification that “others did it before” is a coward’s excuse. Where do we draw the line? How long will Liberia be trapped in this cycle of wastefulness while the masses remain in suffering?
Liberia’s economy is in crisis, yet the leaders who should be solving these problems are the biggest contributors to them. Investors look at a country’s leadership before making financial commitments. How does Liberia expect to attract serious investment when its president’s main concern is flying in private jets and riding luxury cars? This is not leadership; this is arrogance and selfishness at its peak. The government’s reckless spending is driving the country further into economic instability, yet they expect struggling taxpayers and foreign donors to foot the bill.
Public service should be about sacrifice and responsibility, not personal gain. If Boakai truly cared about Liberia’s future, he would lead by example. He would reject luxury and prioritize efficiency. He would focus on stabilizing the economy, creating jobs, and investing in critical sectors. Instead, he has chosen a path of extravagance, reinforcing the perception that Liberian leaders are only in office for personal enrichment.
Liberians deserve better. We should not accept a system where leaders prioritize their personal comfort over the needs of the people. Boakai must be held accountable for his choices, and the people must demand an end to the reckless spending that continues to cripple the nation. Liberia cannot develop if its leaders refuse to embrace financial discipline. Enough is enough.
The country is at a breaking point. The suffering is real, and the economic crisis is deepening. If this government does not change its course, Liberia will remain in perpetual dependence, forever at the mercy of foreign aid. And while the people struggle, Boakai and his government will continue to ride in luxury, far removed from the harsh realities of the average Liberian. This is not governance; this is a mockery of the very essence of leadership.
