President Joseph Boakai has chosen extravagance over responsibility. In a country where public school teachers, health workers, security personnel, and civil servants struggle with inadequate or unpaid wages, he has opted to ride in a 2025 Lexus LX 700HR Super Ultra Luxury SUV, valued between US$115,000 and US$150,000, or perhaps over US$400K because of its customized features. This glaring contradiction exposes a leader who campaigned on modesty but now indulges in the very excesses he once condemned. It is a slap in the face to every struggling Liberian who trusted him to bring meaningful change.
Boakai’s actions mirror the arrogance of power that has plagued Liberia for decades. During ex-President George Weah’s tenure, Boakai was vocal in his criticism of government officials flaunting luxury vehicles while ordinary citizens suffered. He even mockingly suggested that he would ride a wheelbarrow if necessary. Yet, today, rather than upholding his commitment to a government of sacrifice and prudence, he has embraced opulence, tone-deaf to the struggles of the Liberian people. If it was wrong yesterday, it remains wrong today. The President’s decision to indulge in such an expensive vehicle while the nation suffers is indefensible, disgraceful, and shameful.
The hypocrisy is glaring. The same Boakai who promised to “rescue” Liberia from wasteful spending has instead continued the tradition of excessive government expenditure. Last fiscal year, US$1.1 million was spent off-budget on vehicles for both the President and Vice President. This reckless spending is indefensible at a time when hospitals lack basic medicines, schools operate without adequate supplies, and the vast majority of Liberians remain unemployed. How does a leader justify such personal comfort while the nation sinks deeper into hardship? How does a man who once preached modesty and fiscal responsibility turn around to squander public funds on luxury vehicles? This is the height of insensitivity.
Liberia remains one of the poorest nations in the world, with an unemployment rate exceeding 90 percent. The country is heavily reliant on foreign aid, yet Boakai sees fit to prioritize a Lexus Super Ultra Luxury SUV over the urgent needs of his people. Monrovia and other parts of the country remain in darkness, deprived of safe drinking water, quality education, and advanced medical care. Civil servants who dedicate their lives to public service struggle to receive their salaries, yet the President finds it appropriate to bask in luxury. This is not just poor leadership; it is a betrayal of trust, an insult to every Liberian who wakes up daily to struggle for survival. The President cannot pretend to be unaware of the suffering around him while he enjoys the comforts of his expensive vehicle.
This is not the governance Liberia was promised in 2023. President Boakai must be held accountable for his actions. He must reflect on his promises and reconsider his priorities. The people of Liberia did not elect him to live in comfort while they languish in poverty. This blatant display of extravagance is an insult to every struggling Liberian, and it must be condemned in the strongest terms. If he truly believes in the rescue mission he preaches, he must demonstrate it by example. Leaders who truly care about their people do not engage in wasteful spending while their citizens suffer in deplorable conditions.
The 2010 Freedom of Information (FOI) Law needs to be invoked to demand transparency regarding the US$1.1 million spent on vehicles. The Liberian people deserve to know the full extent of this wasteful spending. If Boakai truly seeks to lead with integrity, he must acknowledge his misstep and take corrective action. A true leader does not flaunt wealth in the face of poverty; he seeks solutions to uplift his people. Boakai’s Lexus is not a symbol of progress. It is a betrayal of trust, and history will not forget. Liberians are watching, and they will not be fooled by empty rhetoric. This moment will define Boakai’s leadership, and unless he makes amends, he risks being remembered as yet another leader who placed personal luxury above national interest.
