President Joseph N. Boakai says Liberia is currently in trouble as the country has experienced no major investments for the past couple of years. The President spoke on Sunday, October 6, 2024 at a thanksgiving service in Paynesville upon his arrival from the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) the United States of America.
“I don’t care which side you are on, or how you feel, this country is in trouble,” he said, adding that in order to build Liberia, there must be development opportunities and the country should be able to build the capacity of its citizens to produce and have dignity. However, he said some Liberians are not looking for jobs; they don’t want to work, but are receiving salaries which is very bad for the country.
Boakai said in Liberia, people take too many things for granted, but in other countries people work for the betterment of their nations. He said Liberians lack commitment for their own country, urging citizens to be committed like the United States Secret Service.
“It has never been my desire to fight a sitting President for power, but my desire has always been for Liberia to be a country that will be well respected. I don’t even think about myself. It’s not about the Presidency, it is about a country that is so blessed that we have treated it so lightly,” he said.
“If it was for me along, I will not leave this country; I will just go to my farm; if people are honest to know the situation this country is in, especially in the south region, we will work much harder because 177 years you don’t have good roads, safe drinking water and the cities are not laid out,” he said.
Boakai disclosed that due to the difficulties the country is facing, he could even ride a wheelbarrow to get to the Executive Mansion, saying “I can live without being a President; I don’t have to be here.” “When you come from one part of the world everything is in place; you come to another part everything is out of place for which people don’t care,” he said.
The Liberian leader narrated that to get Liberia on its developmental path, it will take many years and people who are wanting to help develop Liberia will not until Liberians start to become responsible.
