Many See This As Downright Hypocrisy
By Frank Sainworla, Jr., fsainworla@yahoo.com
Who owns or is renting/leasing the private jet the new Liberian leader has been using? On what terms it’s being used and at what cost to Liberian tax payers? Is the deal open ended? Is there a formal contract or a verbal arrangement? Who struck the deal and when?
In one of news analysis some time ago, it was stated that Liberia has a syndrome: despite change of guard, reform pestering and that is: “the more things change, the more they stay the same” or at times even get worse.
The ruling Unity Party (UP) government of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai ran an election campaign, won the 2023 election and laid out its Legislative agenda nearly one year ago on the mantra of upholding good governance, with transparency and accountability being one of its hallmarks. But the reality on the ground seems to be pointing the other way. Full disclosure and opaqueness surrounds many of this government’s shadowy dealings including the notorious “yellow machine” saga and the continuous use of private jet by the Liberian leader on trips abroad.
Who owns or is renting/leasing the private jet the new Liberian leader has been using? On what terms it’s being used and at what cost to Liberian tax payers? Is the deal open ended? Is there a formal contract or a verbal arrangement? Who struck the deal and when? Is it a gift?
It is no secret that President Boakai has been using private jet to make numerous foreign trips since he took office on January 22, 2024. This is something that has sparked serious criticisms and concerns from not only people in the opposition but also from ordinary citizens; since in fact the UP repeatedly condemned the use of private jet by former President George Manneh Weah when they were in opposition. For Boakai and his UP to have seriously criticized such practice while in opposition, but now enjoying the use of private jet while in power, many say amounts to blatant hypocrisy, explaining why the public outcries is mounting after the 80-year-old UP Standard Bearer took off for the inauguration of Ghanaian President John Mahama from the Roberts International Airport (RIA) on Monday, January 6, 2025—his latest private jet voyage.
Oxford Dictionary defines hypocrisy as “the practice of claiming to have higher standards or more noble beliefs than is the case..”
What is particularly shocking and troubling is that the presidency is sporting private jet despite the public outcries, yet the Executive Mansion has to date left citizens in the dark and is yet to come clean with explanation on this very important national issue that requires full disclosure in conformity with the National Code of Conduct law and other good governance practices. Is the use of the private jet a gift?
If it’s a gift, the National Code of Conduct law largely discourages public officials from receiving gifts.
Article 9.1 of the Code of Conduct Act says:
“Public Officials and Employees of Government shall not receive nor encourage the giving of any form of bribe or casual gift in connection with the performance of his or her official duties, whether for himself or herself or members of his or her family or any other benefits that could have any influence on his or her professional approach to issues and the discharge of his or her official duties. This shall not include gifts given during traditional ceremonies and celebrations, and fees paid for Lobbying. The Legislature shall enact laws for the regulation of lobbying activities,”
Having been in power for nearly one year now, the onus is on President Boakai and his UP government to come clean on this private jet issue which has now become a controversy and demonstrate transparency and accountability.
In the case of former President Weah, amidst mounting public pressure he had to personally confirm that although he did have access to a private jet, multi-million airliner was a gift from a friend in Burkina Faso.
As it is typical of politicians, then President Weah failed to neither name the friend or the company he manages.
However, current President Boakai, who came to power to shore up transparency and accountability and vowed that “there will be no business as usual” is yet to even do the latter or make full disclosure regarding his repeated use of private jet on the eve of his UP government’s first year in office.
Many expect this Liberian head of state to translate his January 2024 inaugural address from words into deeds as he said when he took the solemn oath of office:
“My fellow compatriots, it is precisely because of these possibilities and opportunities that we offer to chart a new direction for the country; a new way and a mindset that will lead to an equal future and a transformed country in which the promise of Liberia will show in the lives of the people.”