President George M. Weah, Standard Bearer of the Coalition for Democratic Change and candidate in the up-coming November 14, 2023 run-off election, has told CDCians, independent voters, first-time voters, auxiliaries and supporters of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) that they are at the same juncture of the 2017 election, but their collective resolve to reshape the country’s history carried them to victory. “We stand ready to do it again,” he stated.
“I now urge all of you to rally once again. Let this be a call to action for every CDC supporter, first-time voter, auxiliary, and every Liberian who believes in the people’s cause. Wake up, lace your boots, and let us together finish what we started,” he told his supporters.
Even though President Weah and the CDC accumulated the highest votes in the October 10, 2023 presidential election, they fell short of reaching the Constitutional requirement of 50%+1 vote to be declared outright winner, which has prompted the National Elections Commission (NEC) to declare a run-off election.
In a quest to expand his support base, President Weah extended a hand of friendship to every Liberian whose vote he may not have gotten and all other stakeholders in the country, thanking them for their contribution to the growth of the democracy and assuring them of his unwavering resolve to build a prosperous nation for all, regardless of political, social or religious affiliations. “I am therefore extending a hand of friendship, hoping that you will understand that this government has done more in a short period of time; so join me and let us together continue on the path of development,” he pleaded.
Speaking Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at the CDC headquarters, President Weah said, “I have heard you. I have heard your voices. My administration has worked tirelessly to improve your lives and develop our beloved country. While we acknowledge that there is more work to be done, let us not forget the progress we have made.
“I understand your desire for more, and I assure you that we are fully prepared to do better and greater things in our second term.”
He vowed that the second term will be dedicated to completing Liberia’s road infrastructure. “We intend to fulfill the pledge of ensuring the country’s capital is connected to every nearby county through fully paved roads.
“We will continue to grow our economy in order to provide more jobs for Liberians, including creating jobs in the small and medium enterprises sectors and in key sectors like agriculture and manufacturing.
“We will expand the capacity of the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) to reach more homes while enhancing industrialization and the creation of jobs. “Having reconstituted the Liberian Anti-Corruption Commission—which now has seven independent commissioners—we will accelerate efforts to fight corruption and ensure accountability across government.
The new LACC—which has already been given unprecedented powers—will have my full backing to independently fight waste, fraud, and abuse of public resources. We will similarly continue to empower every integrity institution, including the IAA and the LACC, while making sure that they work together to move the fight against corruption to a new level.
“We will also double our efforts to address concerns about livelihood, employment conditions of civil servants, and youth empowerment.
“As a start, we will re-examine the Beach & Waterways Program and bring it back under the supervision of the Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA). This is intended to abolish the adhoc approach that has affected this crucial program, which is a source of income for thousands of young people.
“At the inception of my government five years ago, we increased the salary of medical doctors. However, due to budgetary challenges, this did not extend to all of our public sector workers, including clinical health workers, mainly nurses, midwives, physician assistants, lab technicians, the security sector and teachers, among others.
“I pledge that we will effect appropriate increments that will be crosscutting in order to impact every public sector worker performing critical service, including those in the security, education, health as well all other sectors, with a view of ensuring improved working conditions so that salary/wages commensurate with prevailing economic conditions.”
