-Opposition Leaders Say, Seek Coalition to Hold Gov’t Accountable
By Jerromie S. Walters
MONROVIA – Liberia’s opposition leaders have concluded two days of high-level talks at former President George Weah’s Jamaica Resort residence, agreeing to establish a steering committee that will formalize their collaboration ahead of the 2029 general elections.
The closed-door strategic sessions, which began on September 5 and concluded on September 6, 2026, brought together key opposition figures in what participants described as a historic move toward political unity. The roundtable, organized by former President Weah, marked the first comprehensive gathering of opposition leaders since the 2023 elections.
“Teeth” for the Opposition
Simeon Freeman, Political Leader of the Movement for Progressive Change (MPC), struck an assertive tone following the deliberations, directly addressing criticism that the opposition has been ineffective.
“You said the opposition doesn’t have teeth, and we are beginning to make the opposition have teeth so that we can work together and begin to counter issues that are of concern to the people of Liberia,” Freeman declared.
Freeman outlined the concrete outcomes of the meeting, confirming that leaders had agreed to establish a working committee to develop a framework acceptable to all participating parties.
His words: “We’ve met as political leaders and we have agreed to set up a steering committee [working committee], that will structure a framework that is acceptable to all of the parties. We have agreed to also ensure a communique. We have also agreed to work together and the structure of what that working together will look like is why this committee is meeting and that committee starts work as early as tomorrow so we are actually running more fast.”
A second meeting is planned in approximately two weeks at an undisclosed location. “We have a second meeting in about two weeks time at another location so that is the outlook. It’s a very good thing. We have come together,” he said.
Former President Weah, who hosted the gathering at his Thinkers Village residence, emphasized that national peace remained paramount throughout the discussions.
“We spoke yesterday to political actors to let them know that the peace of this country is more important than anyone, and that’s why we are here today,” Weah said. “We had a very good deliberation and we are moving forward in our perspectives on what our country needs to be and how we can work together to make sure that we guide our peace.”
Putting Liberians First
Alexander B. Cummings, Political Leader of the Alternative National Congress (ANC), stressed that the opposition’s efforts transcend personal ambitions, framing the collaboration as a mandate to serve the Liberian people.
“This is about the Liberian people. It’s not about us as individuals,” Cummings said. “It’s about speaking to and speaking on behalf of the Liberian people.”
Cummings pledged that the unified opposition would hold the governing administration accountable, calling for responsible governance and equitable treatment of citizens. “We will be holding this government accountable because they are in power. They have the control and the resources, and we want them to work on behalf of the Liberian people,” he said. “We want them to not selectively persecute people. We want them to guide the resources of Liberia in the appropriate way.”
The ANC leader confirmed that this initial meeting represents “the first of many meetings,” with participants agreeing on collaborative processes while remaining collectively committed to advocating for Liberian interests. “We have agreed the processes of how we collaborate, but we are collectively committed to speaking and working on behalf of the Liberian people,” Cummings noted.
Senator Konneh Speaks Out
Senator Amara Konneh of Gbarpolu County was notably absent from the proceedings, citing prearranged international commitments in the United States, Europe, and Asia.
In a statement addressing his absence, Konneh expressed appreciation for the invitation while underscoring the broader significance of the opposition’s unity efforts.
“Constructive and respectful dialogue benefits Liberia’s developing democracy,” Konneh stated. “Our democracy becomes more robust when current and former leaders can sit together, respectfully disagree, and find common ground for the country we all cherish.”
The senator confirmed he had informed former President Weah and the organizers of his inability to attend but expressed “willingness to support any outcome that promotes Liberia’s peace, democracy, and progress.”
“We can compete fiercely in politics and still work together sincerely for Liberia,” Konneh added.
The gathering featured prominent opposition leaders, including Cummings, Freeman, and Musa Hassan Bility – Political Leader of the Corporate Democratic Movement / Change Makers Coalition (CMC). The All Liberian Party (ALP) was represented by an official delegate on behalf of party leader Benoni Urey.
The strategic talks focused on opposition collaboration, political unity, and forming a consolidated strategy ahead of Liberia’s 2029 general elections – a timeline that suggests the opposition is already positioning itself for the next electoral cycle.
Examining Boakai’s Performance
An assessment of the Liberian government’s performance under President Joseph Boakai shows a mixture of macroeconomic stabilization and persistent systemic hurdles. The administration’s governance framework is guided by the ARREST Agenda—focusing on Agriculture, Roads, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation, and Tourism. Under the current administration, Liberia’s economy has demonstrated strong indicators of recovery.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and local financial records noted that economic growth reached 5.1% in 2025 and is projected to remain strong through 2026. Additionally, inflation dropped significantly to around 4%, the lowest rate recorded in over two decades. The administration successfully cleared historical debt arrears with the World Bank, unlocking frozen international development funds.
Furthermore, Liberia’s election to a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for 2026–2027 is viewed as a major diplomatic milestone. Progress has been made on key transport corridors, including the Ganta-Saclepea and Saclepea-Tappita highway connections. The Executive Mansion reported an increase in total paved national roads from 12% to 20%.
The General Auditing Commission (GAC) stepped up its compliance protocols, completing dozens of rigorous institutional audits and rejecting over US$704 million in unsupported domestic debt claims to protect public coffers. The administration achieved a monumental step toward the rule of law by formally establishing the War and Economic Crimes Court, a move praised by human rights defenders to end decades of wartime impunity.
Despite positive high-level economic numbers, ordinary citizens continue to struggle. One of the biggest blows to the government’s credibility involved the premature announcement regarding the acquisition of 285 pieces of earth-moving equipment (“Yellow Machines”) for rural road rehabilitation. The deal triggered massive national blowback, legislative scrutiny, and accusations of weak initial planning and executive overreach.
In August 2026, President Boakai openly expressed frustration at his own cabinet, issuing warnings to officials over implementation delays, institutional bottlenecks, and administrative failure under the ARREST Agenda. Critics highlight that up to 80% of the national budget is still swallowed by government operational costs rather than direct public services.
With young people making up roughly 65% of the population, opposition figures point out that the administration has failed to execute a swift national employment strategy. The informal sector still dominates, leaving few professional paths forward for graduates.
The intersection of the rule of law and allegations of a “political witch-hunt” is currently one of the most volatile flashpoints in Liberian politics. The administration of President Joseph Boakai maintains that its actions are strictly about restoring the rule of law and ending a decades-long culture of impunity.
In response to opposition outrage over high-profile indictments, President Boakai bluntly stated that his administration “owes no apologies to anyone who considered our efforts a witch hunt because only witches are being hunted”
The state insists that prosecutions—such as the legal proceedings against former Finance Minister Samuel Tweah and former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor—are based entirely on institutional findings from the General Auditing Commission (GAC) and the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) among others:
Former President George Weah and the broader opposition coalition argue that the anti-corruption drive is a coordinated, selective campaign designed to decapitate the opposition ahead of the 2029 elections. The CDC contends that the judiciary is being weaponized against Weah-era officials while current administration allies suspected of ethical or financial infractions enjoy systemic immunity.
They point to high-profile acquittals, like Samuel Tweah’s court victory, as evidence that the state’s indictments are legally hollow and politically motivated. During his recent September addresses, Weah accused the government of undermining the rule of law by bypassing institutional acts (such as the suspension of the Central Bank Governor), purging civil servants along party lines, and utilizing heavy-handed police actions against peaceful protests.
Opposition figures have actively written to global bodies, including ECOWAS and the United Nations, urging them to intervene against what they term a “democratic backsliding” and the “persecution of opposition figures” in Liberia.
October 10, and November 14, 2023, were separate days when eligible voters in Liberia had to reelect Mr. Weah or elect current President Boakai as the nation’s 25th President. At the climax of the November 14, 2023, runoff election, Weah had to step aside after current President Joseph Boakai won with 50.64 percent of the vote, while he (Weah) accumulated 49.36 percent of the votes.
Boakai won with only a 20,567-vote margin. Weah had already conceded defeat days before the final results based on the results of more than 99.98 percent of the polling stations. President Boakai was inaugurated on January 22, 2024, and it’s been over 100days since his ascendancy to the Presidency.
Howbeit, the immediate past president, George Weah is still convinced that President Boakai has proven to be unable to do better than he (Weah) did and he thinks Liberians made a severe mistake. This is because he believes President Boakai was never the change they (Liberians) wanted. The next time Liberians get to make a decision about a new President is in 2029.
