-Commits to cutting his pay by 25%
By our Staff Writer
“Our economy is broken, our government is broke…the currency is in free fall,” Liberia’s new President George Manneh Weah has told citizens in his first State of the Nation address on Monday, stressing the need to make sacrifices.
Addressing the joint session of the Legislature broadcast live on radio and TV, he began his speech by vowing to govern strictly in line with the Liberian constitution and the oath he took to uphold, protect and defend the constitution.
He said information received from the former Ellen Johnson Sirleaf regime shows that there has been a decline in revenue generation over the past year.
Revenue collected in 2017 was reported to be US$489.1 m whereas in 2016 the revenue raised was US$565.1m, representing a 13% reduction.
On top of this, he the new President said inflation is rising and Liberia’s foreign reserve is at an all time high.
“I cannot be expected to report with authority on the expenditure and income over the past years. I can’t vouch over the accuracy of this information,” said Weah, who has been in office for only one week.
But he promised a full and proper audit to be conducted on the way the country’s resources has been used, saying that “we should all make sacrifices.”
The 51-old former international footballer and immediate past Senator said that there are lots to be done and more to be desired.
Weah then made a declaration portraying a concrete demonstration of the sacrifices needed in the wake of the current economic slump.
The new Liberian leader said he will with immediate effect reduce his salary and benefits by 25%, although the salaries of the President and Vice President is set by the country’s constitution.
He said proceeds generated from the cut in his pay will be deposited in the national coffers to be used in the interest of the people.
President Weah threw up a challenge to members of the Senate and House of Representatives to follow suit in the interest of the Liberian people.
“I’ll urge you, ladies and gentlemen to follow my lead in the interest of our constituents,” he added.
Earlier, at the start of his State of the Nation address, President Weah acknowledged the presence in the hall of his predecessor ex-President Sirleaf, which he said “shows how far we’ve come as a people.”
Sirleaf’s transfer of power on January 22, 2018 marked the first peaceful hand over of power in Liberia from one elected President to another elected President in over 73 years.
Article 58 of the Liberian constitution requires the President to address the joint session of the Legislature on the fourth Monday of every year on the state of affairs of the country and present his legislative agenda.