Deputy Information Minister for Press and Public Affairs, Daniel O. Sando, has firmly rejected any comparison between the first year of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s administration and that of former President George Weah, describing the previous government as a “failed legacy riddled with corruption, impunity, and unfulfilled promises.”
Sando emphasized that the Weah administration, under the leadership of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), left a controversial and disastrous legacy, marked by what he called “one of the most troubling periods in Liberia’s history.” According to the Deputy Minister, the Weah administration was plagued by widespread corruption, mysterious deaths of professional auditors, a deteriorating sense of security, and financial mismanagement, including the disappearance of 16 billion Liberian dollars and the failed USD 25 million “mop-up” exercise.
Sando accused former President Weah of prioritizing personal gain over national development, citing allegations of embezzlement and misuse of state resources. “In the first year of his administration, Weah built forty-seven condominiums for himself, demolished his street property, and rebuilt it in months,” Sando asserted. “Millions of dollars in public funds were either misused or diverted into private hands, with little to no accountability or legal consequences.”
He criticized the CDC-led government for failing to address corruption, claiming that public institutions meant to combat graft were either co-opted or ineffective. According to Sando, the administration’s failure to deliver on its anti-corruption promises left Liberia divided, disillusioned, and grappling with the aftermath of unaddressed injustices.
In stark contrast, Sando highlighted the achievements of President Boakai’s administration in its first year, which he described as “substantial progress” across the economic, social, and institutional fronts. He noted that the government has qualified Liberia for the second Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact, stabilized the economy, reduced inflation, and achieved a 5.1% growth rate in 2024.
“Unlike the CDC regime, the Boakai administration has strengthened anti-graft institutions, committed to transparency and accountability, and laid the groundwork for good governance,” Sando stated. He also praised efforts in the water sector. Under Mo Ali’s leadership, the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation has restored running water to central Monrovia and is working to extend the service to rural areas.
Sando affirmed that there is no comparison between the two administrations, asserting that “the former is negative while the latter is positive.” He urged Liberians to recognize the strides made under President Boakai’s leadership, which he believes is steering the nation towards a brighter and more accountable future.
