Liberia’s former President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, has expressed dismay at the state of Monrovia, the Liberian capital, citing poor waste disposal practices and apparent neglect of municipal ordinances
By Stephen G. Fellajuah
Monrovia, Liberia; July 10, 2025 – Former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has described the Liberian capital, Monrovia, as “disgustingly dirty,” calling on Mayor John-Charuk S. Siafa to take immediate and serious action to improve sanitation and enforce waste management laws in the city.
Speaking on the national broadcaster ELBC during the Liberian Renaissance program on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, Madam Sirleaf criticized the city’s deteriorating condition, citing poor waste disposal practices and apparent neglect of municipal ordinances.
“Silence makes us all culpable. This city is filthy, and it needs to be addressed,” she emphasized.
President Sirleaf expressed concern that many Liberian officials, including the mayor, frequently travel abroad and observe the cleanliness and order of other cities, yet fail to implement similar standards at home.
She cited Freetown, the capital of neighboring Sierra Leone, as an example of better urban management. Despite having fewer resources than Liberia, Freetown is more organized and cleaner, thanks to proactive efforts by its mayor, the ex-President noted.
“Even at the Ellen Johnson Ministerial Complex, there is dirt all around. Nobody is saying people should be denied their livelihood, but it can be done in a proper, organized manner. Cleanliness is next to godliness,” Sirleaf added.
She made a direct appeal to Mayor Siafa to fulfill his responsibilities by making Monrovia a clean, green, and livable city.
“I don’t know what his constraints are, or what his ambitions may be, but he has to do something. That’s why he’s there. That’s his responsibility,” she stressed.
Shifting focus to national reconciliation, Sirleaf also commented on the ongoing National Healing, Reconciliation, and Unity program initiated by the government. She praised President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s recent efforts, describing them as a “good step” toward addressing the country’s long-standing divisions stemming from its civil war.
She recalled that a similar initiative was launched during her administration in 2006, when she publicly apologized to the nation. Although it did not achieve its full goals, she expressed hope that the current administration will build on those efforts.
“Let’s hope there’s a follow-through now, to make reconciliation real; we still have a very divided society, politically, ethnically, and even religiously, when we shouldn’t. It will take committed leadership to bring us back together”, said Mrs. Sirleaf, who served as the first democratically elected female President in Africa, for two six-year terms.
She led Liberia to democratic governance following the country’s 14-year bloody civil war that left at least 250,000 people killed, including women and children. Editing by Jonathan Browne
