‘We, the people of Liberia, are suffering’ -Protesters Decry Bad Governance, Give Boakai Ultimatum

MONROVIA : Tired of Unity Party’s government’s broken promises, corruption, lies, and pervasive hardship, and tired of being incessantly ignored, thousands of protesting Liberians, organized under the banner “Enough is Enough Demonstration,” on July 17 echoed their burning grievances, having braved surging rains to reach and assemble on Capitol Hill, the seat of Liberia’s political power. They read a petition widely broadcasted by the social and traditional media, outlining a gamut of governance nemeses they considered the precursors of the huge assembly. Their banners conveying multiple messages highlighting forced disappearances, fake and hypocritical fight against corruption, mysterious deaths, trampling on rule of law, amongst other things, the petitioners growled, ‘We, the Liberian people, are hopelessly suffering,” giving President Boakai and his administration two-week ultimatum to receive and begin addressing issues contained in their statement.  The Analyst reports.   

Converging on Capitol Hill July 17, 2025 from across the nook and cranny of Monsterrado County, tens of thousands Liberians delivered a powerful petition to the Boakai-led Unity Party government, saying they “we want a new Liberia” because “we, the Liberian people, are suffering”. 

Since April this year, the civil society group, STAND, and a consortium of other nongovernmental actors have been mobilizing for the July 17 protest, which they said was being held under the theme, “Enough is Enough”.

Yesterday, despite the treacherous weather, citizens inundated the grounds of the Legislature to make known what why they were gathering and what they were demanding from their government.

“We, the people of Liberia—students, market women, pehn-pehn riders, keh-keh operators, health workers, teachers, soldiers’ wives, rock-crushers, rubber tappers, charcoal sellers, civil servants, and everyday hustlers—rise as one voice,” the protesters said in an official petition. “We stand united, not in violence, but in peaceful defiance of the injustice, hardship, and betrayal that have plagued our nation. We rise because our backs are against the wall.”

The petitioners also asserted: “Our country is broken. Our future is in jeopardy. And our patience has run out.”

Here is how the preamble of the petition reads: “Whereas, the Constitution of the Republic of Liberia solemnly entrusts the President—H.E. Joseph N. Boakai, inaugurated on January 22, 2024—with the sacred obligation to defend the Constitution, uphold the rule of law, and ensure public accountability—duties that are the very pillars of peace, justice, and democratic governance. Yet, this sacred duty has been willfully neglected. President Boakai has violated the spirit and letter of his oath by enabling unchecked corruption, shielding wrongdoers, and dismantling the system of checks and balances meant to guard against dictatorship.

“Today, under his leadership, Liberia is sinking deeper into crisis—marked by worsening poverty, rising inequality, rampant lawlessness, and the erosion of public trust. The suffering of the people has reached unbearable levels. The nation is bleeding. And the storm clouds of unrest grow darker each day. We can no longer remain silent while our rights are trampled, our future stolen, and our democracy dismantled before our eyes. Therefore, we, the sufferings citizens of the republic, issue this petition with urgency and resolve, demanding immediate action on the following critical national concerns:

“Whereas, since taking the oath of office, President Joseph N. Boakai has failed to demonstrate genuine commitment to the fight against corruption. His refusal to prosecute corrupt officials—while personally indulging in extravagant chartered flights and a fleet of luxury Lexus vehicles—has sent a dangerous signal to those in power. By choosing personal comfort over national sacrifice amid a collapsing economy, the President has not only failed to lead by example but has also actively enabled a system where corruption flourishes unchecked. This pattern of aiding and abetting fiscal looting among the governing elite has created an environment of impunity, where public officials enrich themselves at the expense of the suffering masses—without accountability, without fear, and without shame.”

Bad Governance & No Rule Of Law

Whereas, Mamaka Bility, a key figure in the administration, is centrally implicated in the Putu Iron Ore concession scandal, where she is alleged to have exerted undue pressure to approve a US $2 billion deal with Pioneer Group LLC, bypassing the legal role of the National Investment Commission and raising serious governance concerns. Her prior involvement in the controversial “Yellow Machine” procurement scandal further reflects a troubling pattern of unofficial influence over major public deals, reinforcing the culture of impunity and backdoor governance at the expense of transparency and public trust;

Whereas, Sylvester M. Grigsby, Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, has been implicated in serious financial misconduct as revealed in audit reports by the General Auditing Commission (GAC), which expose widespread financial mismanagement, payroll fraud, and multiple violations of public finance laws at the Ministry of State under his leadership. These include unauthorized expenditures totaling approximately US $3.5 million beyond the approved budget, thousands of unverified salary payments exceeding US $7.9 million, failure to remit lawful tax and social security contributions, recruitment of ghost employees, and a complete absence of basic human resource controls—all occurring during his tenure beginning January 2024;

WHEREAS Mo Ali, Managing Director of LWSC, has defied legislative orders, inflated project costs, and is accused of misdirecting funds to influence political processes;

WHEREAS Roland Giddings, Minister of Public Works, awarded over US$22 million in road contracts to firms that failed to improve roads, suggesting mismanagement or collusion;

WHEREAS Patrick Honnah, Commissioner of the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA), has drawn widespread public criticism for receiving excessively high salary benefits and perks that starkly contrast with Liberia’s prevailing economic hardships; and reports indicate that under his tenure, funds allocated for essential telecom infrastructure and service improvements have been diverted toward luxury spending, including extravagant travel, upscale accommodations, and high-end personal expenditures—actions which exacerbate public distrust in government institutions and raise serious concerns about fiscal mismanagement and prioritization of personal gain over national development;

WHEREAS Amos Tweh, Managing Director of the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC) and Secretary General of the Unity Party, stands accused of using LPRC funds to acquire costly government vehicles and channeling corporate resources for partisan political activities;

WHEREAS Sekou Dukuly, Managing Director of the National Port Authority (NPA), is alleged to be involved in a clandestine US$5 million illicit financial transaction with a Chinese businessman, raising serious concerns about corruption and lack of transparency; and under his leadership, the NPA has been plagued by persistent mismanagement, including operational inefficiencies, delayed shipments, and questionable procurement practices, all of which have undermined the Port’s critical role in Liberia’s economy and eroded public confidence in the institution;

WHEREAS Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman has weaponized the Liberia National Police into a brutal tool of political oppression, orchestrating the harassment and violent suppression of peaceful protesters and vulnerable workers through the enforcement of illegal regulations; and WHEREAS under his command, law enforcement officers have perpetrated daily abuses against civilians, culminating in the tragic murder of three protesters in Kinjor, Grand Cape Mount County—an atrocity that underscores the grave threat his leadership poses to Liberia’s fragile democracy, public safety, and rule of law; such reckless disregard for human life and justice threatens to plunge the nation into deeper chaos and instability if left unchecked;

WHEREAS Major General Davidson Forleh, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Liberia, has neglected the urgent needs of Liberian soldiers by failing to improve their deplorable living conditions, address their persistently low morale, and secure adequate pay and support for them and their families—conditions that have left many soldiers struggling with poverty, inadequate housing, limited access to healthcare, and diminished motivation, thereby undermining the readiness and effectiveness of the national defense force;

WHEREAS Morie Gongolee, Deputy Director at the Liberia Agency for Community and Rural Advancement (LACRA), is alleged to be at the center of a scandal involving fraudulent cocoa exports, including the manipulation of shipment documentation and illicit profiteering at the expense of Liberian farmers and the national economy; and WHEREAS these fraudulent activities have resulted in significant losses to the government’s revenue and have undermined efforts to develop Liberia’s agricultural sector, calling into question the integrity of officials entrusted with safeguarding the country’s export industries;

Whereas, Vice President Jeremiah Koung is accused of meddling in the Supreme Court’s ruling on the unlawful ousting of Speaker J. Fonati Koffa—using the weight of his office to tilt justice in favor of a breakaway faction loyal to the Executive. This brazen attempt to hijack the judiciary not only defies the Constitution’s separation of powers but strikes at the heart of our democracy, signaling a dangerous abuse of power that threatens to turn the courts into political tools and erode the last pillars of public trust.”

Demands on Government

The protesters demanded the immediate dismissal—where applicable—alongside full, impartial investigations and, where warranted, the prosecution of all officials named above, as well as others implicated in credible reports of corruption, abuse of office, and violations of the public trust.

According to them, while ordinary Liberians suffer, privileged officials continue to loot; civil servants remain underpaid, while government “big shots” enjoy inflated salaries and lavish international benefits; hospitals are in crisis, with patients dying from preventable conditions due to chronic underfunding and neglect, and public schools—including those under the Monrovia Consolidated School System (MCSS)—are in a state of decay.

The Enough is Enough protesters further opined: “The nation’s youth are ignored, jobless, and without opportunity. Foreign companies continue to exploit Liberia’s gold, diamonds, and land through corrupt contracts facilitated by government insiders.”

They said they were demanding economic justice: increased wages, reliable public services, youth empowerment, and a full audit of all natural resource agreements signed in the past 24 months.

Police Brutality & Human Rights Abuse

Regarding abuses, the protesters alleged that 2,759 rape cases in Liberia were reported in 2024 and with the current growing amount of GBV cases among vulnerable women and girls across Liberia, which violates the Maputo Plan of Action, Objective 3 and the Universal Declaration of human Rights, Article 3 and Article 5.

They also pointed to the victims of the Kinjor massacre who lost their lives on February 29, 2024  are yet to get justice under President Joseph N. Boakai, adding that Liberians continue to live in fear of police brutality, secret killings that have led to the deaths of Amanda Nebo, Morris Gomo, Franklin Dargor, Austine Yarkpawolo, Bangalie Kamara, James Kandy, Moses Vesselee, Adama Joe ,Armaline Zubah and etc.

Said the protesters further: “Innocent people are routinely beaten, arrested without charge, or kept in detention illegally. Market women, keh-keh and pen-pen riders are harassed daily under unconstitutional restrictions. The police, under IG Gregory Coleman, act as brutal political enforcers, not protectors. We demand the immediate resignation of Gregory Coleman and prosecution of all rogue officers violating citizens’ rights.”

Courts Used As Weapons

According to the “We, the People” campaigners, Liberia judiciary under Boakai is now a tool to silence critics, delay justice, and suppress dissent, with bribery allegations involving Supreme Court justices who tied to legislative disputes and have not been investigated.

“We demand full judicial independence, free from political manipulation,” said the protesters.

Land & Housing Injustice

The “Enough is Enough” protesters said poor people’s homes are being demolished while rich elites are untouched in the same communities, and land grab and forced evictions continue without legal recourse or compensation, adding, “We demand a fair land policy that protects vulnerable communities and stops elite land theft.”

Politics & False Promises

They also took on the UP administrating, underlining their pseudo promises of reforms that never took off.

“This administration promised reform but has recycled the same corrupt actors; lies during the campaign have become reality in governance,” they said. “We demand constitutional reform that allows citizens to recall underperforming or dishonest elected officials.”

“Our message to the nation and the world is crystal clear,” the protesters continued. “We, the people of Liberia, are suffering. We are tired of broken promises. We are tired of corruption and lies. We are tired of being ignored.

“Today, July 17, we come in peace but we come with power. We come not to beg, but to demand.

We demand justice. We demand dignity. We demand a New Liberia.”

The Protesters Overarching Demands

The protesters made specific demands that include the immediate dismissal and prosecution of all government officials named in credible reports of corruption, abuse of office, and public theft; independent audit and criminal investigation of the National Security Agency (NSA), Ministry of Public Works, Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC), Liberia Water & Sewer Corporation (LWSC), National Port Authority (NPA), and the Ministry of Mines & Energy, and the firing and prosecution of Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman and all security chiefs responsible for brutality, unlawful killings, and the suppression of civil liberties.

Other demands made by the protesters include full public disclosure of all mining, port, and national budget contracts signed since January 2024, including concession agreements and foreign investment deals, and an independent review of all violations of tenured positions and strict enforcement of constitutional protections for tenure, land rights, and civic freedoms—including the rights to protest, organize, and speak freely.

The “Enough is Enough” campaigners further called for the implementation of emergency economic measures to create jobs, increase investment in healthcare and education, and restore hope and opportunity for Liberia’s youth, the immediate lifting of unlawful restrictions on the free movement of all motorbike and kehkeh (tricycle) riders nationwide, particularly in Montserrado County, and an end to the political witch-hunt targeting civil servants based on perceived affiliation with opposition parties, ethnic identity, or religious belief.

Further to their demands, the protesters called for urgent measures to address the rising cost of living, including an immediate increase in the minimum wage and a living wage guarantee for all civil servants; the Prioritization of healthcare in the national budget, ensuring that hospitals are properly equipped, adequately staffed, and accessible to all Liberians, and an independent investigation into credible allegations of bribery and corruption involving Richard Koung and others in connection with the unlawful removal of House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa, with the goal of uncovering the truth and holding all responsible parties fully accountable.