The Unity Party government lead by President Joseph Boakai has again come under criticism over bad governance.
This time , is Liberian clergicman and Former President of Liberia Council of Churches, Bishop Kortu Browne who has taken a radical stance against what he sees as early administrative blunders by the UP government, cautioning it against bad leadership.
Bishop Brown says he’s worried about the current direction of the Boakai’s administration which he believes would soon turn Liberia’s 2023 victory into “mourning” if President Boakai is not careful.
At the climax of a “Greater Praise Week” that ran from, June 10 to Sunday, June 16, at the headquarters of the New Water in the Desert Assembly in Brewerville, the Pentecostal cleric averred that the power to sustain victory, which was given to the country by God, would soon shatter if President Boakai failed to remove forces of failure that encircle him.
Speaking on the theme, “TO GOD BE THE GLORY – Unhindered, Unobstructed! With the sub-theme: “Bishop Browne expressed concern over how the governance process of the country is becoming more and more challenging with a noisy environment just about six months after a peaceful election and transfer of power.
Bishop Browne provided a biblical synario “Joab was told, “The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom. And for the whole army the victory that day was turned into mourning,” cautioning President Boakai to take heed.
“I doubt if there’s anything like a complete victory. You will always have to work towards sustaining your victory.”
He emphasized the need for the country to embark on prayers so that God could direct the decision of President Boakai.
The Man of God recalled that during the 2023 Presidential and Legislative elections in Liberia, preferred fear that the country would have degenerated into violence, confusion, chaos, and even civil war, but maintained that prayers were used as a yardstick for God to deliver Liberia.
Now about six months after that peaceful election and transfer of power, Bishop feared that Liberia is not just becoming challenging, but the governance process has turned to, a “cracking rescue mission” saying, there is an increase in homicide, intolerance, disagreements over fiscal accountability measures, incoherent public relations and a public display of bigotry as well as leaving many ordinary Liberians bother about the future viability of the “rescue” mission.
He added that there are too many public disagreements amongst officials noting that if care is not taken, it will distract the administration from the purpose of attaining state power.
He contended that like days of Joab in the Bible, there is a need to caution political leaders against turning the “victory into morning”.
Bishop Brown, who is the immediate past president of the Liberia Council of Churches argued that the foremost purpose of a government is to “solve problems”, adding the country is faced with a lot of problems that need to be addressed nthose serious issues including hunger, poverty, ignorance, disease, disunity, etc. “It doesn’t make sense for Government officials to spend their whole time just on unnecessary arguments without any results to show. They must get to work” adding, “the problem of children going to school in many areas, meeting health needs, and addressing hunger, amongst others, are with us each day”.
The clergyman called on President Boakai to immediately dismiss government officials who are not helping to support his agenda.
“Some officials of ministries and agencies use their working time taking and posting pictures the whole day on Facebook. When will they do the government work,” he queried.
However, Bishop Brown advised that the government needs to consult other stakeholders including the religious community, and business community as a means of brainstorming in the g on the best way to achieve its agenda.
“All Liberians have a contribution to make to the sustenance and development of their country.
Bishop Browne at the same time called on the government to streamline her public messaging, adding that there are too many government spokespersons and they are misinterpreting the government’s messaging.
Credit: Willie N. Togbah/ Contributor
