In a stunning revelation by community leaders in the Southeast, it has been exposed that President Joseph Boakai’s administration has failed to deliver on its central campaign promise of building roads. Boakai, who campaigned vigorously on the promise of road infrastructure development, has been accused of deceiving the Liberian people with empty rhetoric and false assurances.
During his 2023 campaign, Boakai went as far as guaranteeing that no car would be stuck in the mud after the first 100 days of his administration. However, recent reports indicate that Liberian roads remain in a dire state, with no significant improvements made despite the administration collecting nearly a million dollars specifically allocated for road initiatives.
Roland Giddings, the Minister of Public Works, has dismissed President Boakai’s promises as unrealistic, stating that it is impossible to address all road issues within such a short timeframe. As the rainy season exacerbates the already poor road conditions, communities across the country are left stranded and frustrated.
Local community leader Dennis Toweh from Rivergee expressed his disappointment with President Boakai’s failure to fulfill his promises, highlighting the dire consequences for his community. “Despite all the claims about the road, not one single action has been taken to address the crises we face,” Toweh lamented.
Even Mohamed Fahnbulleh, a truck driver who initially supported Boakai due to his promises of road repairs, expressed his disillusionment with the administration. “It’s unfortunate that he lied to the Liberian people,” Fahnbulleh remarked, echoing the sentiments of many disillusioned citizens.
In a desperate attempt to salvage the situation, Boakai’s Minister of State without Portfolio has been soliciting donations of yellow machines from foreign partners to address the road crisis. However, questions have been raised about the source of these machines, with many Liberians, including lawmakers, questioning the motives behind the donations.
Rumors abound that the machines are being donated in exchange for mining rights in the Wologisi Mountain, Liberia’s last natural reserve in Lofa County. This alarming allegation, first raised by Henry Costa during the 2023 election campaign, has cast a shadow of doubt over the Boakai administration’s integrity and commitment to environmental conservation.
With mounting pressure on the administration to deliver on its pledges, the future of Liberia’s road infrastructure hangs in the balance, and President Boakai’s credibility as a leader is called into question.
