Weah On Another Economic Adventure: “First-ever Post War Airline For Liberia”

FLASHBACK: Pres Weah and the controversial private jet from Burkina Faso

Frank Sainworla, jr., fsainworla@yahoo.com

Monrovia- Nearly three years in office, with the Liberian economy in shambles couple with a decline in  the global aviation industry, President George Manneh Weah is set to launch a national carrier on Friday, October 30, 2020, the Information Ministry announced on Thursday.

“The Government of Liberia launches this Friday, October 30, 2020 its first-ever post war Airline for Liberia called “Lone Star Air (Wings of Liberia)”. His Excellency President George M. Weah will do the honors for the launch ceremony scheduled to take place at the Roberts international Airport.”

This rather daring move, comes amid a drastic decline in the global aviation sector, with well-established international airliners in sharp decline in the past seven-eight months due to the devastating COVID-19 pandemic and the massive fall in the number of air travels across the world. African carriers are especially facing the brunt of the financial and economic slump.

And it is not known whether a country like Liberia, which cannot even successfully run a national transport company in the capital, can cope with operating a national airliner, especially at this time when the industry is nearly going aground.

• “Job losses in aviation and related industries could increase by up to 3.5 million. That is more than half of the region’s 6.2 million aviation-related employment and 400,000 more than the previous estimate.
• Full-year 2020 traffic is expected to plummet by 54% (more than 80 million passenger journeys) compared to 2019. Previous estimate was a fall of 51%.
• GDP supported by aviation in the region could fall by up to $35 billion. IATA previously estimated a $28 billion decline,” said an August 2020 report by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Where will the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) government get the money from to procure the first aircraft, service it and pay pilots and crew remains a big question, when was unable to purchase a single fire truck recently. Thanks to donation of several fire trucks from the government of India, the National Fire Service until recently had only one functional fire truck.

“The government acknowledges  that the Covid-19 Pandemic has put partial restrictions on borders worldwide, which has come at a great loss to players in the aviation industry. But it said that Liberia, through this bold initiative by President George M. Weah, is taking the opportunity to tap into some good fortune by ensuring it becomes a significant player in the aviation space, especially in the sub-region,” the statement from the Information Ministry said on Thursday.

it is also not clear as to what would be the nature of Friday’s Lone Star Air launch ceremony will be, as the Information Ministry’s statement did not give details. In his first adventure after taking office in January 2018, Weah embarked on an abortive multibillion US dollars Eton and EBOMAF loan scheme to build a coastal highway from Monrovia to Harper and other ambitious projects.

But President Weah’s government has “envisaged that the launch of the new airline by the government will lead to the realization of making Liberia a destination of choice and an aviation hub in the region. The colorful ceremony will be held at the Roberts International Airport in Margibi County, and with much excitement and enthusiasm.”

Weah, the international football icon-turned politician, is due to lead an array of government officials, business partners and members of the international community.

Perhaps, it will be at that ceremony that the partners investing in a Liberian national airline will be unveiled by the Liberian leader. But questions will certainly be raised as to what will be the economic benefits of setting up a national airline at this point in time, including job creation for Liberians.

It is also not clear as to whether the launch and development of this new Liberian airliner has any link with the controversial “private jet” of President Weah, who was reported to have got same from a wealthy Burkina Faso businessman during his early days in office after being inaugurated on January 22, 2018.

In late May 2018, President Weah personally confirmed that he has access to a private jet but says the plane, which is worth millions of US dollars, is a gift from a friend in Burkina Faso.

The Liberian leader over the weekend dispelled growing criticisms and public insinuations concerning the alleged purchase of a private jet by the government.

The President clarified that claims that the plane has been bought by the government are far from reality, as the government has greater priorities to better the lives of the Liberian people than to commit $30 million (Thirty Million United States Dollars) to purchase a private jet.