Zwedru, Grand Gedeh- Former President George Weah has accused Joseph Boakai-Jeremiah Koung administration, charging that Liberia has become a “narco-state” and warning that democratic gains under the Coalition for Democratic Change administration are being eroded.
By Jaheim T. Tumu- jaheim.tumu@frontpageafricaonline.com
In observance of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) 22nd anniversary, Weah told thousands of partisans and opposition allies via an audio message from the United States, that Unity Party-led government has betrayed promises of “rescue” and “transformation.”
Instead, he said, “families are struggling, young people and entire communities have been forgotten. Businesses are closing. Hardship has taken over the land. The gap between political promises and the reality we face is stark.”
Weah accused the Boakai-Koung administration of shielding officials involved in the recent US$ 19 drug bust and those involved in drug trafficking.
Declared Weah, “Liberia has turned into a narco state with officials leading the drug trafficking network being shielded by the UP administration as they are themselves a part of the government.”
The CDC Standard Bearer also alleged that national security had been compromised, citing “foreign troops occupying Liberia’s sovereign territory” and government failure to address border encroachment in Lofa County.
Weah warned of democratic backsliding, charging that “political opponents, specifically former officials, are being persecuted, free speech is being trampled upon while the security forces engage in brutality against peaceful citizens.”
He accused Boakai of undermining the rule of law. “Boakai has refused to abide by rulings of the Supreme Court, threatening judges into submission to toe the line of the executive branch.”
However, Weah struck a defiant tone about the CDC’s resilience, stressing that the party cannot be “destroyed by propaganda.”
“A movement built by the people cannot be destroyed by propaganda. A movement built on hope cannot be defeated by temporary setbacks. A movement rooted in the hearts of ordinary Liberians cannot disappear,” he said.
Weah added, “The CDC is alive. The CDC is united. The CDC is organized. The CDC is energized. And the CDC is coming back to power.”
Weah framed the anniversary not only as a celebration but as the start of a new political chapter.
“The road to 2029 begins today,” he told supporters. “I call upon every CDCian, the opposition community, and Liberians in general to rise and prepare for the political battle ahead. This is not the time for division. This is not the time for complacency. This is the time for mobilization.“
Reflecting on the party’s origins, Weah reminded the crowd that the CDC was born “not in the corridors of power, not among the wealthy and privileged.”
“It was born in the hearts of ordinary people, in forgotten communities, among market women, students, motorcyclists, farmers, workers, and young people who demanded to be heard.”
He added, “Twenty-two years ago, Liberians of every stripe stood up and declared, this country belongs to all of us. That declaration became the Congress for Democratic Change.”
Weah tied his own journey to the party’s grassroots ethos. “George Weah is an ordinary Liberian child with extraordinary dreams, sharing the same struggles as millions of our people,” he said.
He noted, “When I walked into the Executive Mansion, millions of Liberians walked through that door with me. That is the story of the CDC. That is our legacy. That is our pride.“
The former Liberian Leader called for an opposition that intends to regroup, mobilize, and chalflenge the Unity Party in the next electoral cycle.
“Together, we have built the most powerful grassroots political movement in Liberia,” he said. “Together, we have changed our country’s political history. Together, we have achieved what many believed impossible. And yet, much remains to be done, and together, we can do it.”
