By Othello Sarweh Nimely
MONROVIA—Calls are growing for officials of the Liberian government to focus more on creating jobs and economic opportunities for citizens rather than criticizing or insulting people who approach them for financial assistance.
The issue has recently become a subject of public discussion, with several prominent Liberians accusing some government officials of being mean, disrespectful and disconnected from the economic difficulties faced by ordinary citizens.
The conversation, which initially centered on the conduct of individual officials, has now expanded into a broader debate about unemployment or whether citizens are benefiting directly from those in positions of authority.
Adding to the debate, Liberian political commentator and lawyer Atty. Moriah Yeakula, in a recent Facebook post, frowned on government officials who allegedly refer to citizens seeking assistance as “beggars.”
Yeakula argued that many Liberians turn to politicians and public officials for assistance because they lack meaningful employment and sustainable sources of income.
She called on government officials to help create an environment where citizens can earn a living instead of condemning people who come to them for help.
The lawyer also reminded politicians that many of them once depended on ordinary citizens when they were campaigning for votes.
“When you were begging for their votes, you were not beggars too?” she questioned.
The issue was recently brought into focus by Nimba County District #5 Representative Korto Kwagrue, who criticized members of the Unity Party government as being mean in a widely circulated Facebook video.
Kwagrue urged government officials and other public figures to assist people living within their communities, arguing that citizens should be able to feel the impact of individuals who occupy positions of authority.
Comparing the current administration with the former Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) government under former President George Weah, describing officials of the previous administration as more willing to provide assistance to ordinary citizens.
According to Kwagrue, such acts of generosity contributed to people continued support for the CDC.
He also argued that while roads, bridges and other infrastructure projects remain important, citizens must also experience improvements in their personal economic conditions.
Kwagrue warned that when people fail to feel the benefits of government in their daily lives, they may become less inclined to support those in power during elections.
Beyond direct assistance to individuals, the Nimba County lawmaker called for more government contracts to be awarded to Liberian-owned companies. He maintained that Liberian companies have the capacity to perform some of the work currently being awarded to foreign nationals and foreign-owned companies.
Amid the growing criticism, some government officials have individually responded to the allegations.
Some of the notable responses came from one of the commissioners of the Liberia Telecommunications Authority, Patrick Honna and Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC) Managing Director Mo Ali, who took to Facebook to address allegations surrounding requests for assistance.
In a post, Mo Ali said individuals seeking assistance from his office would, going forward, be required to provide documentation acknowledging the support they receive.
“From now on, anyone who seeks our help or assistance will sign a receipt, which we will publicly share as proof of the support we’ve provided,” he wrote.
The response has further fueled discussion on social media, with Liberians expressing differing views on whether public officials should personally provide financial assistance to citizens or whether government institutions should instead focus on creating sustainable economic opportunities.
For many members of the public, the debate is increasingly about unemployment, poverty, access to economic opportunities and the responsibility of the government to improve living conditions.
Whether the Unity Party-led government will officially respond to the concerns raised on the media remains to be seen.
For now, public attention remains focused on whether the government will take concrete steps to create more jobs, expand opportunities for Liberian businesses and ensure that ordinary citizens feel a direct economic impact from those in power.
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