On January 22, 2024 Liberians woke up to the inauguration of a new Government representing a dawn of a new day in Liberia’s political governance structure. This followed months of electoral activities in 2023 when Ambassador Joseph Nyuma Boakai was announced President on November 16, 2023 by the National Elections Commission. The Liberia Council of Churches, immediately following the declaration congratulated Ambassador Boakai as President of Liberia. “Today, as a Council we again congratulate President Boakai in his six-month leadership. We also like to take this time to extend our thanks to former President George Manneh Weah for graciously accepting the elections results before its final pronouncement and his subsequent decision to place a call to President Boakai concealing defeat. His decision is a landmark victory for Liberia’s flourishing democracy,” the Council of Churches has indicated in a statement released in Monrovia. Now that a new government has taken over, the Liberia Council of Churches said it has been monitoring and documenting happenings in the country’s governance process and wishes to address itself to these issues affecting the country. “Though, there have been mounting calls from the public and the media for the Liberia Council of Churches to speak on issues of National Concerns, we do appreciate your concerns, but in everything there is time and season under the face of the earth. Many thanks to God for the state of our country under the leadership of President Joseph Boakai. The question, we believe, many of our citizens are asking is to inquire whether our country is better off now than six years ago. As a Council, we cannot say it is all rosy, but with God above, we will over all prevail and overcome the enormous challenges our nation currently experiences. We thank President Boakai for sustaining the peace of our nation for the last six months since he took over the mantle of authority. To God alone be all the glory,” the Council of Churches has noted. Meanwhile, the statement from the religious body said, “after six months of the Boakai- led government, the Liberia Council of Churches presents to you its Documented Situation Report covering the period under review. In this Statement, the Liberia Council of Churches will address five critical issues that have greatly affected our nation since the inception of the Boakai- led Administration.” Below are the observations of the Council of Churches about the Boakai-led regime: BEA MOUNTAIN PROTEST: On March 1, 2024, five of our citizens protesting for their rights against bad labor practices by the Management of the Bea Mountain Company in Grand Cape Mount County were gun down by officers of the Liberia National Police in cold blood. After carrying out an internal investigation, as a Council, we issued a statement and asked President Boakai to institute an independent investigation into these killings on grounds that the Police cannot investigate itself because of its role in the Protest. Our plead didn’t yea any results and the Liberia National Police went ahead and conducted its own investigation and exonerated itself. The LCC believes the police which was a key player in the protest cannot be the one investigating the very incident, a situation, the Council described as conflicted and undermines the true essence of transparency and fairness. The Council believes that the Independent body would have been objective to ensure transparency and accountability in its findings and provide recommendations aimed at seeking lasting solutions to the concerns of workers at the Concession Company. The Council also believes that the Independent Committee, when constituted, would have gone deeper to unearth the contending needs of the people in the Concession areas to avoid future disturbances at other Concessionaires across the Country. The Liberia Council of Churches avails that the very police have been accused of discharging live bullets on the Protesters and cannot be the player and referee at the same time with such a critical situation involving the lives of citizens. The Council believes also the Independent Committee as part of its terms of reference would have investigated the operations of Bea Mountain following reports of reneging on some provisions of the concession agreement signed over a decade ago. What is more frustration up to date, investigations conducted by the Legislature and other government entities are yet to be made public. This action brews tension among concessions workers and it is important for those responsible for specific tasks in Government to make public findings from their investigations. What is even more demeaning and an affront to the people of Grand Cape Mount is the decision of Government to provide 5 thousand United States dollars to families of the dead protesters. This is inhumane and must be condemned. This doesn’t represent the right to live, this undermines the true essence to live and it also serves as mockery to the deceased. TENURE POSITIONS: In the later part of the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Administration, the formation of tenure positions became the order of the day. These formations sought to strengthen the independence of these institutions in carrying out their job without political interference and to uphold good governance and meets best international standards. Tenure positions worldwide is a key governance issue especially in the public policy school of thought and it provides a clear understanding of fairness and objectivity. However, since the inception of the Boakai led Administration those occupying tenure positions have been constantly harassed and intimidated without any semblance of respect to the rule of law governing these positions. The Constitution of Liberia gives the President the authority to appoint officials of Government where necessary but it should be done in conformity with the law. Anything out of that breeds conflict and undermines the rule of law. In the very tenured Acts, there are clauses that state the removal of tenured officials for cause, instead of arbitrary removing people from their position without due process. The Supreme Court Ruling on these tenured positions would have brought to closure the debate on tenured but it escalated the debate when the president later discovered cause to remove these individuals from these positions. This, we believe, should have been the first step taken by President Boakai in line with the law. The decision from the Supreme Court was left undone and it undermines coordination amongst the three branches of government. For the Council of Churches, the action on the part of President Boakai contravenes the rule of law governing these tenured positions. WAR & ECONOMIC CRIMES COURT: we will like to use this public forum to congratulate His Excellency, Joseph NyumaBoakai for taking the bold step to establish a once dark horse that has been permeating our social and human life as Liberians. The Liberia Council of Churches welcomes this bold step on the part of President Boakai and would provide the needed support to ensuring that the court is formally established. This issue has been lingering in our body politics where government after government have played politics with the people, but today we are witnessing the birth of a new day in our human life as Liberians. The Council of Churches believes the creation of these courts would provide both the victims and perpetrators the opportunity to prove their case and exonerate themselves. We called on the International Community to join efforts with the Government of Liberia to ensuring the formation of these powerful instruments that will serve as a deterrent to those who believe that violence is the only pathway to solving their grievances. LEGISLATIVE WASTE: Our lawmakers are key part of our governance process and they are in the Legislature to carry out three cardinal responsibilities: To Make Law, to Provide Oversight and to fully Represent their Constituents. These functions, in the view of the Liberia Council of churches run contrary to its meaning and purpose. Laws are made to greatly affect the life of people, laws are not made to suppress the very people they should represent. Over the years, the National Budget that should be used to benefit the people of Liberia has been used by a few to enrich themselves at the detriment of our already impoverish people. This must stop if our country must be seen as a serious and responsible nation. There have been mounting outcries about Budget manipulations at the Legislature. Some of our senators are today on sanction because of the very budget manipulation where lawmakers give unto themselves a huge chunk of the national cake. Currently, a lawmaker makes more than Ten thousand United States dollars in both benefits and salaries and when taxes are deducted they take home more than seven thousand United States dollars. Is this not enough for them. Why should our lawmakers give unto themselves fees for constituent break, retreats and the purchasing of three vehicles within 9 years? This is waste and abuse and this has to stop. Forty-five thousand dollars is allotted in the budget for each lawmaker to procure a vehicle of their own and within three years they are to procure another vehicle. This is broad day corruption and it is time our lawmakers see themselves in the mirror of society and offer repentance to the people of Liberia. Public office is not for anyone to enrich themselves, public office is public service, stop abusing our resources that are intended for all Liberians. Liberia is too rich in natural resources for a few to benefit. ABRITRARY KILLING OF CITIZENS BY SECURITY PERSONEL: The Liberia National Police and the Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency have been involved in discharging firearms against unarmed citizens. A fortnight ago, in the Jamaica Road community, in one of its operations in fighting drugs opened fire and reportedly injured a child. That shooting incident has led to the life time injury of that Child. Another incident occurred on Monday, July 1, 2024 in the Rehab Community where a 17-year-old boy was shot and killed by an officer of the Liberia National Police. Our security forces should avoid these uncivilized and barbaric acts by taking away the lives of citizens. We called on the President to launch an investigation into these two recorded incidents and bring to book the perpetrators. CORRUPTION: Corruption is an old age issue affecting our progress as a nation and if we don’t collectively work together to confront this virus, our progress as a nation would become illusive. The Liberia Council of Churches attention is drawn to reports of corruption involving twenty-two Million United States Dollars intended to rehabilitee roads across the Country. This is a concern and such a figure to maintain Latrice road (Duster road) is a huge amount and we request the President through the General Auditing Commission to commission an audit of said expenditure. Our attention is also drawn to report of corruption at the National Oil Company where fees intended for boards sitting has become the order of the day. We called on the President to immediately investigate what is unfolding at NOCAL to ensure transparency takes precedence. Finally, The Liberia Council of Churches wants to bring to the attention of Government the current debate surrounding the importation of 285 earth moving equipment into the Country. This is a good idea that should be lauded by all well-meaning Liberians. However, we cannot brush aside our laws in the name of development. The Council of Churches in its wisdom believes that all laws governing the purchasing and procurement of these machines should be followed to avoid suspicions of corruption involving such a great endeavor. We called on the Legislature to use to use its oversight authority to scrutinize all pieces of documents that will come before it surrounding these machines. In conclusion, the Council of Churches said it remains committed to working with Government to “ensure that our peace and stability is protected for the good of our nation. It is our prayer that these issues be seen as an honest account of the Liberia Council of Churches. We call on Government to consider this statement as our contributions to the growth and development of our nation.”