By By: The People News Online
Liberians had hoped that the election of the Unity Party (UP) in 2023 would restore ethical governance and moral discipline in public service. Yet, barely two years into power, the ruling party appears to be walking in the exact footsteps of its predecessor — the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC). The same political misconduct once fiercely criticized by UP leaders has resurfaced, now under their own watch.
This is not mere coincidence; it is a disturbing return to the culture of impunity that continues to plague Liberia’s democracy.
The Ghost of the CDC’s 2020 Playbook
In 2020, the CDC administration, under Chairman Mulbah Morlu, sparked public outrage when it appointed several sitting government officials to serve on its campaign team during the Special Senatorial Elections.
Among those named were EPA Executive Director Professor Wilson K. Tarpeh, Gender Minister Piso Saydee-Tarr, Monrovia City Mayor Jefferson T. Koijee, Deputy Finance Minister Samora Wolokolie, and others. Their participation clearly violated Part V.1 of the National Code of Conduct — a law that forbids appointed officials from engaging in political campaigns or using state resources for partisan benefit.
Civil society groups, the Elections Coordinating Committee (ECC), and the Liberia Council of Churches all condemned the act. The CDC later rescinded the appointments, but only after immense public pressure.
Fast Forward: The UP Replays the Same Script
Today, the same Unity Party that once led the charge for accountability is repeating those same errors. Senior government officials such as Amos Tweh of the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company and Mohammed Ali of the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation are actively engaged in political mobilization.
Others, including Clarence K. Massaquoi, Sekou Dukuly, and Luther Tarpeh of the National Port Authority, have reportedly participated in partisan activities while still occupying public offices. The double standard is glaring — what was wrong yesterday suddenly appears acceptable today.
The Code of Conduct: A Law Buried Alive
The Citizens Movement for Change (CMC) has filed a formal complaint against the Unity Party, accusing it of persistent violations of the Code of Conduct. Yet, the Office of the Ombudsman remains silent — the same office that was once vocal when the CDC was in power.
It raises a painful question: Has the Code of Conduct become a political weapon, used selectively depending on who sits in the Executive Mansion?
Liberia’s integrity system, already fragile, cannot withstand such hypocrisy. When the law becomes optional for those in authority, democracy is reduced to an empty slogan.
A Fundraising Scandal Wrapped in Familiar Faces
The Unity Party’s upcoming “Homecoming and Fundraising Program,” set for December 6, 2025, is the latest episode in this moral decay. Themed “Positioning the Unity Party for Long Term Political Vibrancy, Policy Reform, and Development,” the event’s organizing team includes prominent public officials such as Deputy Minister Cornelia Kruah, Commerce Minister Magdalene Dagoseh, and Public Works Minister Roland Giddings.
Each of these officials manages state resources — a direct conflict of interest when involved in partisan fundraising. What message does this send to civil servants and ordinary citizens? That political loyalty outweighs ethical responsibility?
Critics Cry Hypocrisy
Former CDC Chairman Mulbah Morlu, now heading the group Solidarity & Trust for a New Day (STAND), has publicly accused the Unity Party of “blatantly abusing power.” Ironically, Morlu once defended similar behavior under the CDC, but this time his criticism is valid.
“President Boakai must withdraw all cabinet officials from these partisan fundraising activities,” Morlu declared. “State power is not party property — and public funds are not campaign fuel.”
His words, though politically tinted, strike at the heart of the issue: Liberia’s ruling elites continue to treat state institutions as extensions of their political machines.
The Opposition’s Reminder
Former Montserrado lawmaker Acarous Moses Gray joined the chorus of critics, calling out the Unity Party’s hypocrisy. “What was considered a violation yesterday is being justified today because it’s the Unity Party,” Gray posted. He warned that many of those named hail from revenue-generating entities — NASSCORP, NPA, and others — making their participation even more troubling.
The question lingers: where are the voices of the Elections Coordinating Committee, the churches, and civil society watchdogs that once cried foul? Their silence now is as loud as their outrage then.
The Silence of the Ombudsman
Equally disappointing is the apparent dominance of the Office of the Ombudsman, which is constitutionally mandated to enforce the Code of Conduct. When the law is applied selectively, it breeds cynicism and distrust.
A law unenforced is a law dead — and Liberia’s Code of Conduct appears to be buried in the shallow grave of political convenience.
The Moral Decline of Governance
Liberia’s democracy was meant to mature after years of political excess. Instead, it remains stuck in a cycle of self-serving politics where each ruling party inherits not only power but also the bad habits of its predecessor.
The Unity Party’s conduct today confirms a bitter truth: in Liberia, opposition outrage often dies the moment power changes hands.
A Call to Conscience
The Unity Party must remember that governance is not a reward for political victory but a sacred trust. President Joseph Boakai, who campaigned on integrity and accountability, must not allow his administration to erode the very principles that brought him to power.
If the law only applies to opponents, then it ceases to be law — it becomes a weapon of convenience. Liberia deserves better. The people deserve better. And history will not forgive leaders who repeat the mistakes they once condemned.
