George Weah on Hot Seat, Liberians Not Impressed.

Two years down the road under the leadership of George Weah, Liberians are not happy because they feel a sense of disappointment in George Weah’s economic policies.

George Weah, a Liberian from a humble beginning with his roots in the slums of Liberia, migrated to Europe where he played professional football, due to his fame as a successful footballer and his humble beginnings, he was loved by the poor who made up the majority, so his move into Liberian politics was a welcome
occurrence because the poor Liberians were happy that now one of their own was going to direct the affairs of the country.

However, the feelings now do not reflect their earlier expectations, for instance, Dominic Kpadeh who breaks down boulders for a living says that before George Weah came into power, his colleagues and himself had a monthly earning of about $1,000 (900 euros) a month between them for crushing rocks for the construction industry, however, he says, for breaking the same amount of rocks they get less than $250 (225 euros).

The 45-year-old Dominic who appears bent over from the workers complained that it is the same everywhere you go, according to him,

“People are no longer building like before. Even those who are coming for crushed rock want to buy it very cheaply.”

Andrew Seiwon, an undergraduate from one of the nations tertiary institution said

“We saw George Weah as one of us because he came from a poor family, but for the past two years everything has been promised.”

In the 2016 World Bank report, Liberia’s 4.8 million citizens were said to be living on less than $1.90 (1.69 euros) per day.

Though Liberians feel disappointed in the governance of George Weah, Liberians must recall that Liberia is a country ravaged by two civil wars that followed each other in rapid succession, wars that claimed about 250,000 lives between 1989 and 2003, then between 2014 and 2016, over 4,800 Liberians died when the country was hit by Ebola, a crisis that traversed West Africa, reaching Nigeria, the Liberian economy took a direct hit due to the dwindling of foreign currency inflow, a shortfall that escalated the inflation, the aftermath of these events contribute to the economic downtime being felt.

George Weah abolished undergraduate tuition fees, he also embarked on major road-building projects, but the difficulties faced by Liberians in getting banknotes from ATMs, and the irregular pattern with which most civil servants get their salaries or go unpaid for a couple of months on occasion is also helping to inflame the inflation thus drastically reducing the peoples purchasing power causing general suffering amongst the poor masses.

In his new year speech to the nation, 53-year-old Weah informed the citizens of Liberia that there was “still lots of work to be done

“I am confident that 2020 will be a year of economic recovery”