By Socrates Smythe Saywon | Smart News Liberia
ZWEDRU, GRAND GEDEH COUNTY – Alternative National Congress (ANC) Political Leader Alexander B. Cummings has called for greater opposition unity against President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s administration, accusing the Unity Party government of deepening national division, weakening democratic institutions, and failing to improve the lives of ordinary Liberians, while demanding an independent investigation into the reported US$19 million drug seizure at Roberts International Airport.
Delivering the keynote address at the Congress for Democratic Change’s (CDC) 22nd anniversary celebration in Zwedru on Saturday, June 27, 2026, Cummings used the occasion to issue one of his strongest public criticisms of the Boakai administration and urged opposition political parties to unite ahead of the 2029 general elections.
Addressing former President George Manneh Weah, former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor, opposition political leaders, and thousands of CDC supporters, Cummings described the formation of the CDC as a defining moment in Liberia’s democratic history, crediting the party with giving political voice to ordinary Liberians who had long been excluded from national leadership.
He said the CDC reshaped the country’s political landscape by creating opportunities for people from disadvantaged communities to rise to positions of national leadership, including the presidency.
Drawing parallels between his own journey and that of former President Weah, Cummings recalled how both men rose from humble beginnings to achieve international success before returning home to serve Liberia. He said both had been underestimated and dismissed by Liberia’s political establishment despite their accomplishments.
Cummings argued, however, that Liberia’s decades-long struggle for equality, social justice, and economic opportunity remains unresolved because successive governments have failed to confront the structural causes of poverty, exclusion, and inequality.
According to him, governments have consistently governed for the benefit of a privileged minority while leaving the majority of Liberians behind.
“The Unity Party government is no different,” Cummings declared, accusing the current administration of fostering political exclusion, widening tribal and partisan divisions, and failing to provide the inclusive leadership needed to unite the country.
He further alleged that the government has weakened democratic governance through the removal of tenured officials, disregard for Supreme Court rulings, political witch hunts, selective anti-corruption efforts, underfunding of integrity institutions, and increasing political interference in public institutions.
Without presenting evidence for allegations of criminal conduct, Cummings also claimed Liberia is facing a growing threat from transnational drug trafficking amid suspicions of collusion by state actors.
He maintained that Liberia cannot achieve meaningful democratic progress without strong and independent institutions capable of enforcing the rule of law fairly and without political interference.
Turning to the country’s economic challenges, Cummings painted a bleak picture of living conditions, citing widespread poverty, food insecurity, unemployment, poor educational outcomes, and limited access to healthcare despite government reports of economic growth.
He argued that official statistics mean little to families struggling daily to feed their children, pay school fees, or obtain basic medical care.
“These are not just statistics. They are the realities of ordinary Liberians,” he stressed.
A major focus of Cummings’ address was the reported US$19 million cocaine seizure at Roberts International Airport, which he described as a critical test of the government’s commitment to accountability.
He called for an independent and transparent investigation into the case, insisting that everyone found responsible should be prosecuted regardless of political status or influence.
“If we are serious about fighting drugs, this would be a good start,” Cummings declared.
He also warned that the opposition would work with both domestic and international partners to ensure that no influential individual implicated in the investigation escapes accountability.
Beyond the narcotics investigation, Cummings called for an independent review of the Foya development project and the circumstances surrounding recent tensions along the Liberia-Guinea border.
He further appealed to civil society organizations, religious institutions, and ordinary Liberians to intensify demands for transparency and accountability from the Boakai administration.
A significant portion of his address focused on opposition cooperation, with Cummings arguing that no single political party can deliver the change Liberians seek without working collectively.
He urged the ANC, CDC, Citizens Movement for Change (CMC), Movement for Progressive Change (MPC), National Patriotic Party (NPP), Liberia People’s Party (LPP), All Liberian Party (ALP), and other opposition parties to unite around a common national agenda.
Responding to critics who question his political ambitions, Cummings said he was prepared to play whatever role was necessary to achieve meaningful national change.
“If I have to be the driver or the car boy to get us to our destination of a better Liberia, I will,” he declared, arguing that personal ambition should never stand above the national interest.
He concluded by asserting that Liberia’s economic hardships, deteriorating public services, unemployment, and poor healthcare affect citizens regardless of political affiliation, calling on Liberians to reject division and work together to build a more inclusive and prosperous nation.
Ending on a politically charged note, Cummings urged opposition parties to replace what he described as the government’s failed “Rescue Mission” with a new national agenda to “Fix Liberia” in 2029, signaling that the country’s opposition is already positioning itself for the next presidential election while intensifying pressure on the Boakai administration over governance, accountability, and economic performance.
