Former Lofa County Representative and former Managing Director of the Liberia Aviation Authority, Moses Yakparwolo Kollie, says President Joseph Nyuma Boakai is providing better leadership by allowing members of his administration to participate in decision-making.
Appearing on OK FM 99.5’s OK Morning Rush, Kollie said his opinion is based on his years of service in government as a civil servant, lawmaker and cabinet minister.
“When you ask about governance, Clarence, I see real governance. I see proper governance because I have had the opportunity to serve in both the Legislature and the Executive,” Kollie said.
He said President Boakai maintains an open-door policy with his ministers and senior government officials, allowing them to brief him regularly on the work of their institutions.
“The President’s lieutenants—ministers, directors, assistant directors and deputy ministers—have access to him. They present their projects, plans and reports on how they are managing their sectors. That is why the President can speak authoritatively on issues because he is well informed. He listens to his lieutenants. It is not one person making decisions alone,” he said.
Kollie also reflected on his time in the administration of former President George Weah, claiming that many experienced officials gradually lost direct access to the former President.
“The moment we crossed into 2018, the President was in a cage. People prevented experienced leaders from gaining access to him because those around him wanted to manipulate him,” he alleged.
He said one of the issues he challenged was the government’s salary harmonization policy, arguing that it was introduced without proper discussion at the Cabinet level.
“Government policies are supposed to be formulated at Cabinet meetings, and we had never discussed such a policy,” Kollie said.
Asked why he remained in the Weah administration despite his concerns, Kollie said he later chose to run for the Legislature because lawmakers have greater freedom to express independent views.
“There is a difference between serving in the Legislature and serving in the Executive. In the Legislature, you have an independent opinion. Had things been good, I would have remained in the Executive instead of contesting,” he said.
Kollie also defended the Boakai administration’s handling of public funds, saying he has not seen county development funds and other dedicated accounts being diverted from their intended purposes.
“I do not see misapplication of funds in this administration. The Road Fund is being used for its intended purpose, and the same applies to the Social Development Funds. The money is no longer being diverted, and that is why you are seeing development in Grand Bassa, Bong and Nimba,” he said.
His views were challenged during the programme by National Patriotic Party member George Mulbah, who argued that there have been cases of misapplication of public funds under the current administration. Mulbah also criticized some Executive officials for attacking lawmakers who raise national issues, although he commended the government for its road infrastructure projects.
During the phone-in segment, caller D. Eric Kpayea alleged that Kollie had urged former President Weah to overturn the 2023 election results in favour of the Coalition for Democratic Change. Kollie denied the claim.
“At no time did I ever tell the former President to reverse the election results in favor of the CDC. In fact, I did not even have that level of access to the former President,” he said.
Kollie also made a brief comment on opposition politics, saying, “Mulbah Morlu was politically buried.”
