-Former VP Taylor Clarifies Position on GOL Performance
By Jerromie S. Walters
MONROVIA — Former Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor has pushed back against what she calls “political spin” surrounding her recent comments on the Boakai-Koung administration’s performance, insisting her remarks were never intended as an endorsement of the government.
In a post-event interview over the weekend, Madam Taylor acknowledged that positive developments are occurring in Liberia, even from her position as an opposition leader. She cited the groundbreaking ceremony for Liberia’s first post-war maternity hospital, a project undertaken in partnership with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“Just yesterday, the First Lady broke ground for Liberia’s first post-war maternity hospital, an achievement that deserves praise,” Madam Taylor said, urging the media to highlight such accomplishments. The former vice president emphasized that challenges facing Liberia remain severe, and ordinary Liberians experience these hardships daily.
She expressed concern that the media often amplifies negative narratives while overlooking progress being made across the country. “Good things are being done in the country, even from my position as an opposition leader,” she said, while cautioning that her observation should not be misinterpreted as blanket approval of the current administration’s policies.
Madam Taylor’s initial comments drew swift reaction across social media platforms, with supporters of the ruling establishment celebrating what they perceived as a display of statesmanship. “Thank you very much, Madam Former Vice President. You have really proven your patriotism to our beloved country by saying the fact,” one social media user wrote.
Another commenter offered blessings, saying, “So true, Mama. May God bless you all the days of your life. More grace in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.”
However, critics—many believed to be aligned with the opposition—accused the former vice president, now President Joseph Nyuma Boakai of hypocrisy, noting that the Weah-Taylor administration faced relentless criticism during its tenure.
“This is positivity and genuine leadership. This is also something this government couldn’t acknowledge or say in support of national interest when this woman was vice president of the republic,” one critic wrote.
“Everything was projected as negativity under her regime. Now she is in opposition and being objective, it is news. But when her government was building hospitals, it was talked down as if she was dancing with the devil. Hypocrisy,” the commentator added.
Taylor Expresses Disappointment
Hours after the initial interview, Madam Taylor took to her official Facebook page to express disappointment that her comments had been manipulated for political purposes. “It is deeply disappointing—though not surprising—that my remarks are now being twisted by regime apologists for political spin,” she wrote.
The former vice president provided context for her original statements, explaining that she had attended the 2026 Latter-day Saints Conference on Strengthening Families earlier that day. “I spoke plainly about the widening cracks in our family structures—the growing absence of fathers in the home, the relentless economic pressures that pull parents away from their children, and the unchecked influence of the digital age, which is eroding values faster than many realize,” she explained.
When asked about the media’s role, Madam Taylor said she was direct in her response: “The media must use its platform responsibly. It cannot continue amplifying negativity and expect families to thrive under that weight. A nation cannot rise when its storytellers only highlight its fall.”
Madam Taylor made clear that her comments about media responsibility should not be confused with approval of the current administration’s governance.
“Let me be clear: the challenges facing Liberia are real, and Liberians are feeling them every single day,” she stated. “My statement was never an endorsement of the government’s performance. In fact, it was a reminder that leadership must confront reality, not hide behind propaganda.”
The former vice president identified the massive influx of drugs into Liberia as one of the gravest threats facing the nation. “This is not a matter for speeches or photo-ops. It is a national emergency,” she declared. “The government must identify the true perpetrators, bring them to justice, and dismantle the networks that have placed Liberia on the dangerous path of being labeled a drug hub. Anything less is unacceptable.”
Madam Taylor concluded by noting that Liberia deserves honesty, action and good leadership. “Liberia deserves honesty. Liberia deserves action. And Liberia deserves leadership that confronts the truth, not one that manipulates it,” she stated. Madam Jewel Cianeh Howard-Taylor served as Liberia’s 30th Vice President from January 22, 2018, to January 22, 2024.
She made history as the nation’s first female vice president, running alongside former football star George Weah under the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) banner. Her latest comments come amid growing public discourse about the performance of the Boakai-Koung administration, which took office in January 2024 following a closely contested election.
