-Senator Amara Konneh Warns UP
By Jerromie S. Walters
Monrovia: Gbarpolu County Senator Amara Konneh has delivered a blunt assessment of Liberia’s economic situation, noting that statistical improvements are failing to translate into better living conditions for ordinary citizens. The former Finance Minister made the comments via his official Facebook page Sunday, amid growing public frustration over rising prices, unemployment, and economic hardship across the country.
Konneh rejected the political adage about not interrupting one’s opponents when they are making mistakes, stating that remaining silent in the face of governance failures would be unpatriotic. He emphasized that while the Unity Party alliance had legitimately criticized the previous CDC administration for its poor economic management, the current government must now confront its own challenges in delivering tangible results to the Liberian people.
The senator presented a detailed economic analysis showing that despite reported GDP growth of 5.3% and positive indicators from institutions like the Central Bank of Liberia, IMF, and African Development Bank, most Liberians continue to struggle with basic survival. He highlighted several alarming trends including the rapid depreciation of the Liberian dollar, unsustainable national debt levels, and a critical lack of job opportunities for approximately 80,000 young people entering the workforce each year.
Konneh warned that at the current growth rate, it would take Liberia 13 years to double the size of its economy – a timeline he described as completely unacceptable to voters who expect meaningful change within the government’s six-year mandate. He stressed that no economic theory or intellectual justification could explain away the daily hardships faced by market women, students, and ordinary workers across the country.
The senator’s intervention has exposed growing tensions within the ruling Unity Party, with some allies unhappy with his public criticism. However, Konneh maintained that constructive dissent was necessary for good governance, arguing that those who disagree with government policies often provide valuable perspectives that loyal supporters might overlook.
While acknowledging the UP administration’s achievements in stabilizing public finances since taking office in 2024, Konneh called for more ambitious economic targets, including double-digit growth rates that could actually transform living standards. He emphasized this would require exceptional effort from both the executive and legislative branches, including hiring skilled professionals and taking calculated policy risks.
The remarks come as Liberia faces mounting social unrest, with recent protests reflecting widespread frustration over economic conditions. Konneh urged his colleagues to listen carefully to these demonstrations rather than dismissing them, noting that the protesters’ core concerns about affordability and quality of life were precisely the issues that had brought the UP alliance to power.
Last weekend, the Gbarpolu County Senator who’s also a key ally of President Joseph Boakai, has called on the administration to heed the concerns raised by recent protests, warning that public dissatisfaction could translate into electoral consequences if left unaddressed. In a write-up via his official Facebook page early Friday, the senator acknowledged the country’s macroeconomic stability pre-2023 but stressed that daily struggles persist for ordinary citizens.
He said, “Remember, we had stable macroeconomics before the 2023 elections. While we are making steady progress now, times are still tough for families.”
Senator Konneh, who supported the ruling Unity Party in the 2023 elections, emphasized that the government must listen to all voices – including critics who often reveal uncomfortable truths. He added: “Now that the debate about yesterday’s protest and crowd size is over, I hope we can focus on the important issues affecting our country. The truth quietly watches our self-deception since 1980. It doesn’t protest or make noise. Those who oppose us often reveal truths that supporters might miss. We lie to protect ourselves, but we usually speak honestly when we disagree.”
The Gbarpolu County Senator noted that while many Liberians chose not to join yesterday’s demonstrations, their patience has limits. “Yesterday may not have been a good day for the protesters, according to regime supporters, but I hope our government hears their complaints. A silent majority didn’t feel the need to protest yesterday, maybe because of its leaders, but will protest at the polls in 2029 if they don’t see the government making a difference in their lives,” he cautioned
Moreover, Senator Konneh warned against surrounding oneself with yes-men: “Don’t trust those who only say good things about you or a situation!” Konneh is a former Finance Minister and current chair of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts. Hundreds of angry Liberians participating in Thursday’s “Enough is Enough” protest gave the Liberian government a 14-day ultimatum to respond to their demands.
The protesters threatened to return to the streets if their concerns are not given the needed attention. This came after they refused to submit their petition to the House of Representatives’ Claims and Petitions Committee, declaring they would only deliver their demands directly to President Joseph Boakai or Vice President Jeremiah Koung.
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai was at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (EJS) Ministerial Complex in Congo Town during the protest. He had gone to launch the Liberia AI Challenge 2025. In what appears as a reaction to the citizens concern, the Liberian Leader noted: “I see protesters on their placards saying, Boakai can’t lie but let me tell them that they can lie and we are moving this country forward.”
The “Enough is Enough” protest outlines ten key demands that address pressing national concerns. The protesters’ concerns highlight rising poverty, insecurity, and government indifference.
