As Liberia continues to face pressing national challenges from youth unemployment and poor infrastructure to a fragile healthcare system many citizens are growing increasingly frustrated with politicians who appear more focused on the 2029 elections than on delivering real solutions today. Both opposition leaders and some members of the ruling Unity Party are being criticized for prioritizing political maneuvering over meaningful governance. In a bold and widely applauded move, President Joseph Boakai addressed his Cabinet earlier this year with a clear message: “If your focus is on 2029, you may respectfully resign. My priority is serving the Liberian people, right now.”
The president’s statement, delivered during the first Cabinet meeting of 2025, was a direct response to growing concerns that some officials were already positioning themselves for the next election cycle rather than focusing on their current mandates. Boakai’s remarks were seen as a call for discipline and accountability within his administration. He emphasized that the government’s legitimacy rests not on political calculations but on tangible results for the Liberian people. While the President has taken a firm stance, the opposition bloc has plunged headlong into early politicking. Rather than presenting a unified policy platform or engaging in constructive legislative work, opposition leaders have been consumed by succession talk, tribal alliances, and premature rallies. A recent editorial in The Liberian Investigator captured the public’s growing discontent:
“Liberia’s political class is preparing for the next election instead of planning for the next generation.” The piece criticized both ruling and opposition figures for neglecting their duties in favor of political ambition. The Elections Coordinating Committee (ECC) recently urged lawmakers to “fulfill campaign promises and prioritize national development over political ambition.” The Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA) echoed this sentiment, calling the delay in implementing the Local Government Act a “betrayal of democratic principles.” With four years still to go before the next general election, many Liberians are asking: Who is governing while the politicians are campaigning?
The answer, for now, remains uncertain. But one thing is clear Liberia’s future depends not on who wins in 2029, but on what its leaders do today. Across Monrovia and beyond, Liberians are demanding accountability. “We voted for leaders, not campaigners,” said Sarah Kpoto, a market vendor in Paynesville. “They should be fixing roads and schools, not planning rallies.” Youth groups, religious leaders, and civil society organizations are calling for a renewed focus on governance. Their message is clear: Liberia’s future depends not on who wins in 2029, but on what leaders do today. President Boakai’s challenge to his team sets the tone but the real test lies in whether the rest of the political class will follow suit.
Author: Staff Writer
