Development Specialist Ambulah Mamey has sharply criticized the size and financial implications of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s 23-member delegation to Japan for the TICAD 9 conference, accusing government officials of manipulating travel protocols to benefit from daily subsistence allowances (DSA) and per diem.
In a statement posted on social media, Mamey condemned what he described as a recurring culture of “Travel for Per Diem,” arguing that the practice has remained unchanged despite promises of reform. He pointed out that some individuals who previously denounced similar trips under former President George Weah are now justifying them under the Boakai administration.
“Until we STOP putting DSA/hotel money in people’s hands and move it to government payment cards, the unnecessary ‘Travel for Per Diem’ will not stop,” Mamey said. “Some of those who criticized it yesterday justify it today. Those who justified Weah’s 40 days, 40 nights, 40 people delegation are the ones FAKING 2-day trips as cost control advocates.”
The TICAD ~Tokyo International Conference on African Development ~ summit, held this year in Japan, aims to strengthen economic and diplomatic ties between Japan and African nations. While the significance of Liberia’s participation is not in dispute, the size of the delegation has sparked public backlash. Many citizens described it as “old wine in new bottles,” suggesting that the new administration is repeating the financial excesses of its predecessor.
Mamey warned that President Boakai has four years to address these systemic issues, particularly around transparency and public spending, or risk being voted out in the next election.
“JNB has 4 years to fix this. If he doesn’t, Liberians will replace him ~ but not with Weah, who did the same for six years. The next election is about CHANGE, NOT REPEAT,” he added.
The President’s Office has not yet responded to the criticism. However, the public debate underscores the increasing demand for accountability and fiscal discipline from a population that has grown weary of perceived government waste.
