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Monrovia, Liberia — Former presidential candidate Simeon Freeman has launched a blistering critique of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, describing him as “the most corrupt president ever” and accusing his administration of prioritizing personal interests over Liberia’s deepening social and economic challenges.
In a strongly worded statement circulating publicly, Freeman argued that the Liberian presidency is more than a ceremonial office, but one that carries the “hopes and aspirations of nearly six million people,” including children facing hunger, students yearning for quality education, and families struggling under the weight of unemployment and poor public services.
Freeman painted a grim picture of Liberia’s current socio-economic indicators, pointing to high maternal mortality rates—estimated between 628 and 854 deaths per 100,000 live births, far above the sub-Saharan African average. He contrasted Liberia’s situation with neighboring Sierra Leone, which records significantly lower maternal mortality figures.
On the economy, Freeman criticized the high cost of electricity, placing Liberia’s average at US$0.22 per kilowatt-hour, compared to US$0.033 in Guinea, a disparity he said discourages investment and job creation. He further cited widespread unemployment, with more than 30 percent of Liberians living in extreme poverty and nearly 60 percent below the poverty line.
Freeman also highlighted structural challenges, including Liberia’s weak ease-of-doing-business environment, limited domestic investment mechanisms, and an overreliance on imports and raw material extraction. He noted that only about 1,200 to 1,500 kilometers of roads are paved out of an estimated 12,000 to 15,000 kilometers nationwide, while a single doctor may attend to between 5,000 and 20,000 patients in some parts of the country.
Against this backdrop, Freeman accused President Boakai of focusing on regional diplomacy—particularly stability in the Mano River Basin—rather than addressing Liberia’s pressing domestic needs. He argued that neighboring countries in the basin already outperform Liberia on key economic indicators and face no immediate destabilization threats.
The most serious allegation leveled by Freeman concerns the reported construction of a retirement home in Foya, which he claims began during Boakai’s first year in office and was allegedly financed with public funds not approved in the national budget. Freeman contrasted the project with the unfulfilled promise of 10,000 computer-trained youths, describing the housing project as a symbol of misplaced priorities.
“No president since the foundation of this country has so selfishly prioritized self over national needs,” Freeman asserted, arguing that this alleged action earned Boakai the “distasteful title of Liberia’s most corrupt president.”
Freeman further questioned the silence of government officials, stating that even if the president lacked direct knowledge of the project, responsibility would still rest with the ministers involved. He maintained that failure to investigate or sanction those responsible amounts to tacit approval.
Calling for accountability, Freeman insisted that President Boakai must publicly account for what he described as “major theft of public property,” warning that failure to do so would only deepen public distrust.
As of publication, the Liberian government has not issued an official response to Freeman’s allegations.
