The Joseph N. Boakai (JNB) Tact Team has expressed disappointment in the government’s recent press release, signed by Information Minister, Ledgerhood J. Rennie, regarding what the group termed a deceptive offer to “help” former Vice President Joseph Nyuma Boakai during his period of illness.
The JNB Tact Team described the government’s release as a “failed and totally unacceptable propaganda stunt that seeks to politicize the health situation of a statesman. Sadly, instead of the government focusing on bettering the lives of the people that elected them, it is more focused on the upcoming elections and propaganda”.
On Friday, January 13, 2023, the Government of Liberia (GOL) expressed concern following reports of the ill health of former Vice President Joseph N. Boakai, who was said to have checked into a local hospital last week.
According to a release issued by the Ministry of Information, “As a statesman and political leader of a national party, his well-being is of utmost interest to the country. In view of the foregoing, the government has initiated contacts with family members of the former Vice President and offered to help in whatever way they deem necessary, while also wishing him a speedy recovery.”
However, in a release issued over the weekend and signed by the JNB Tact Team’s National Chairperson, Telia Urey, the group said, “We condemn, in the strongest terms, the politicizing of the health condition of former Vice President Boakai, as is deceptively being done by the George Weah-led government. We caution the government to focus on fixing the healthcare system which has been crippled under the watch of President Weah, instead of releasing politically charged statements that are completely erroneous and misleading.
“Should the government want to help citizens with health conditions, we admonish them to concentrate on helping the driver and security guard who were involved in an accident with Minister Samuel Tweah and were left in Liberia to languish at a hospital without access to good healthcare, while Finance Minister Tweah and his wife were taken out of the country to a Turkish hospital for advanced medical treatment.”
The release underscored that the Standard Bearer of the Unity Party (UP), former Vice President Boakai, “will not be tricked into any form of propaganda war with this unserious government that lacks priorities and focus. This is another clear sign that our government is being reduced to a circus, as opposed to carrying out serious government duties that are essential to the well-being of Liberians, whose lives the government has disappointingly jeopardized through rampant corruption, misrule, and irresponsible and poor leadership.”
The Tact Team expressed gratitude to all Ambassador Boakai’s supporters for their genuine concern, prayers and thoughts.