Piah Says ‘Prayer Is A Divine Calling’ -Responds to Waves of Censure on Boakai’s Resort to God

By George C Flomo

MONROVIA – In an apparent rebuff to incessant criticisms against President Boakai and Finance Minister Nganfuan who have been making strong public call for citizens to pray hard for progress and development instead of using ideas and experience to solve the country’s difficult problems, spokesman Jerolinmek Matthew Piah said prayer is a divine calling.

Speaking during the MICAT press briefing, Minister Piah responded to negative reactions from some members of the public and media, clarifying that the call to prayer is not intended to replace sound governance, but rather to spiritually complement the country’s development efforts.

“When the head of state declares a national day of prayer, it is not to replace economic reforms or infrastructure efforts,” Piah said. “Rather, it is a call for national unity and divine covering amid the many challenges we face.”

The Minister expressed concern over what he described as a growing culture of cynicism, even towards matters of faith. He noted with dismay that sacred moments such as the National Day of Prayer were being politicized and ridiculed by some in the media and public discourse.

“Some of us wake up and the first thing we drink is negativity,” he said. “If we begin to make fun of prayer and the things of God, we are treading dangerous ground.”

He underscored the importance of national prayer, warning that no citizen is immune to life’s uncertainties, and only divine grace can guarantee protection and direction.

Addressing suggestions that prayer was being used as an excuse for inaction, Piah emphasized that government ministries and agencies are fully operational and delivering on their mandates.

“We are not saying prayer should replace the work of the Ministry of Public Works or the economy team. No! They continue their jobs. But as a nation, we also turn to God,” he stressed.

Minister Piah commended ministries such as Public Works for their ongoing efforts and reiterated that the administration remains committed to fulfilling its development agenda.

He also extended appreciation to the Christian and Muslim communities who responded positively to the call for prayer, highlighting the remarkable unity demonstrated across the country from choirs singing at ERWA to clerics gathering in mosques and churches.

“We thank all the faithful who gathered across the country to intercede for peace, safety, and progress. Liberia belongs to all of us,” he said.

In a special moment during the briefing, Minister Piah read a special message from the United Nations Resident Coordinator to Liberia which he described “unique and timely”. 

The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Liberia statement, written by Christine N. Umutoni, highlighted Liberia’s recent peaceful democratic transition and celebrated its election to a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for 2026–2027.

Umutoni’s message recalled Liberia’s journey from civil conflict to democratic confidence, praising the peaceful transfer of power from former President George Weah to President Joseph N. Boakai as a model of resilience and democratic maturity.

The statement described Liberia as a symbol of hope and progress in a world facing growing democratic backsliding.

She emphasized that Liberia’s development must be people-centered, stressing the importance of investing in education, healthcare, youth empowerment, and climate resilience. The statement commended Liberia’s launch of the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID), aligned with both the SDGs and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

The UN pledged continued partnership through its 2026–2030 Cooperation Framework, focusing on economic transformation, governance, and human capital development.

Umutoni concluded with a call for continued national effort to turn peace into lasting prosperity:

“Now is the time to turn peace into lasting prosperity, to let democratic values drive inclusive growth, and to show that Liberia can be a beacon of what is possible when a nation invests in its people and believes in its own potential.”