Johnson Chea is among several Liberians nationwide and worldwide who have expressed transforming hopes in the New Year and in the new government headed by President-elect Joseph N. Boakai upon his inauguration; writes Ojuku Silver-tongue Kangar, Jr.
“We want jobs, not only in the governmental sector alone, but mainly the private sector under the new government of President-elect Joseph N. Boakai,” Chea said, noting that empowering the private sector nationwide will cause the citizens to seek employment instead of young people thronging at Ataye shops and debating on what is not building them up economically.
For the past years, especially 2023, he expressed dissatisfaction and economic hardship, sternly hoping that the New Year and new government will restore Liberians’ lost hope and heal their many wounds.
“What makes a man frisky or a good father is good job and financial strength of his pocket. But to be cashless in your own country is belittlement and disgrace to manhood and fatherhood,” Chea said, considering the stress rent and tuition payments have on parents and tenants.
He called on the in-coming government to prioritize agriculture promotion in every county that will employ at least 200 people.
Chea is not the only Liberian making the clarion call for new hopes fulfilment, but one of several. On New Year’s eve and the day itself, Liberians who thronged at various churches and entertainment areas were heard saying, “The New Year and new government should touch every part of our lives,” as they thanked God for crossing over to 2024.
Scores of bike riders who plied the streets on New Year’s night celebrated with resolutions, which included scholarships, jobs opportunities, elimination of illicit drug use, and so on.
However, the year 2023 left tears and sorrow in many Liberians’ eyes, especially citizens of Bong County, who were involved in a gas tanker explosion tragedy on December 26 that killed and injured several citizens.
Incumbent President George M. Weah regretted the accident and expressed condolences to the victims’ families; likewise President-elect Joseph N. Boakai expressed sympathy, donating L$10,000,000 and a pick-up load of 25kg bags of rice to the victims’ families.
President-elect Boakai defeated incumbent President Weah in the 2023 presidential and legislative elections and is awaiting inauguration on January 22, 2024.
Though Liberians expect new hopes in the new year and new government, their quest faces a huge challenge as the world’s economy is sternly challenged.
The outbreak of the Covid-19 still crumbles the world’s economy, and is impaired by Russia and Ukraine war, Israel and Palestine war, and so on.
But in a resuscitating tone, President-elect Boakai assured that every Liberian will benefit from his administration, and vowed to audit out-going government officials of the Coalition for Democratic Change.
The President-elect, who just returned from the United States of America and met with international stakeholders, said that the stakeholders pledged unflinching support to his government upon his inauguration. He said that his discussion with international bodies, especially the heads of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and so on, is an assurance that Liberians will benefit tremendously in his administration.