The son of the late Chief Justice, Cllr. Chea Cheapoo, has launched a blistering attack on President Joseph Boakai’s administration, accusing it of nepotism, corruption, and a failure to uphold the rule of law. Solomon Cheapoo, a former independent candidate for Representative of District 13, Montserrado County, declared that the government has betrayed the trust of the Liberian people, deepening economic hardship and political instability.
According to Cheapoo, the administration has abandoned its promise of merit-based governance, instead placing political allies and family members in key government positions. He alleged that power has been disproportionately concentrated in the hands of officials from Lofa County, raising concerns about favoritism at the highest levels of government.
“If you examine the current administration, you’ll notice that almost every major ministry is led by someone from Lofa County. This is more than favoritism, it’s a blatant concentration of power in the hands of a few,” Cheapoo asserted.
He accused the government of recycling the same officials across different ministries, allowing corruption to persist unchecked. “We voted for change, yet we have witnessed nothing but the reappointment of individuals who have previously failed this nation. If anything, the situation has worsened,” he lamented.
Cheapoo also denounced the removal of a sitting Speaker of the House without due process, calling it a grave violation of democratic principles. He warned that the Executive Branch’s interference in legislative matters sets a dangerous precedent for governance in Liberia.
“Where is the rule of law? You cannot simply remove a Speaker without following legal procedures. If a removal is necessary, there must be due process, a formal hearing and adherence to constitutional guidelines. Instead, this administration operates more like a gang than a democracy,” he argued.
Beyond governance concerns, Cheapoo painted a grim picture of Liberia’s economic landscape, highlighting rising unemployment and worsening poverty. He described a dire situation where young people, deprived of opportunities, are left to beg on the streets just to survive.
“I walked through my district today and saw over 60 young people sitting idly, hopeless and hungry. The government has turned its back on its own citizens, ignoring the poverty crisis while officials enjoy lavish lifestyles,” he stated.
Cheapoo also criticized the government’s handling of the ongoing rice crisis, questioning why major rice production companies have not been invited to invest in Liberia. He pointed to Malaysia as a potential model for transforming the nation’s rice industry but blamed the administration for lacking the vision and commitment to bring about such change.
“Liberia is too small a country to have a persistent rice crisis. Other nations have solved this problem, yet our leaders seem incapable of formulating a basic plan,” he remarked.
He further took aim at the government’s response to the escalating drug crisis, suggesting that key figures in the administration have ties to drug cartels, making any real efforts to combat drug abuse ineffective.
“How can we expect to win the war on drugs when those leading the fight are linked to the very cartels we are battling? This is an absolute joke! Drug abuse is ravaging our youth, and the government is doing nothing to curb it,” he declared.
He dismissed government officials’ widely publicized drug tests as mere theatrics, arguing that real change requires effective leadership and strong policies rather than publicity stunts. “A drug test for the cameras means nothing. What truly matters is strong leadership, sound policies, and decisive action. On all three fronts, this government has failed spectacularly.”
Cheapoo warned that unless the administration takes immediate corrective measures, it risks being voted out by an increasingly disillusioned populace. “If this government does not wake up, address its failures, and start governing in the people’s interest, they will be removed just as quickly as they were elected. Liberians will not endure another five years of deception, corruption, and failed leadership,” he concluded.
