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President George M. Weah (L) & President Xi Jinping (R) |
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| President Weah |
There is no doubt that Liberia is a country that is in pressing need of assistance and such generosity from the Chinese will help solve some of the road challenges. Nevertheless, the economy is still in a shambles, consummated by the absence of basic necessities and a failed government attempt to secure two loans; this should be a warrant for concern.
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| President Weah and President Xi Jinping |
The Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) should have been an opportunity for the Weah led Administration to redeem itself. Now that it is apparent that Eton and EBOMAF loans are all dead, FOCAC should have brought recovery to this new government.
Securing not only a bilateral, but highly concessional, loan from China would have boosted morale regarding the president and restore confidence in his ability to deliver.
While it is true that cooperative agreements or grants pose little or no threat to our sovereignty and natural resources, such gestures still don't solve the critical problems. Judging the government from a "How does this benefit the Liberian people?" perspective, this was a failed visit.
Bluntly speaking, the US$54 million dollar grant will have little or no impact on the economy or provide jobs to the suffering masses.
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| President Weah's New Mansion |
This administration has been self-sabotaging from its inception, and more likely, this will become the continued trend for the next five years. Even though they have consistently called us names, the fact remains that our critiques are legitimate. There are essential indicators used by our international partners to gauge the government predisposition to manage funds.
The paradox here is that this government has chosen to neglect most international standards that attract foreign loans and direct foreign investment, but still wishes to be taken seriously.
Unlike his predecessor, Ellen J. Sirleaf, who was corrupt but transparent, President Weah and his officials behave like Liberia is their personal property and they are all beyond reproach. The president and his vice president, along with his entire cabinet, have refused to make their assets available, citing an ambiguous line in the code of conduct.
A selfless president would, in good faith, make his assets and liabilities public as enshrined in our constitution to prevent bad optics. Interestingly, this doesn't seem to bother president Weah, who started his administration by bulldozing his homes barely two months after taking office.
The attitude of this government toward our antigraft institutions and their lack of accountability and transparency will continue to impede their chances of attracting the funding needed to deliver on the ambitious promises the president has made.
Written by: Al-Hussein Y. Fadiga
Activist & Political commentator
hussein.fadiga@gmail.com