We should be forewarned, though, that the next laughing stock in the sub region will be us. Other countries, including our neighbors (Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone), have had civil wars but yet they are rapidly emerging from the ashes of their respective civil wars. But unlike Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone, Liberia is fixated in the ashes of its civil war: the country is a tough stuff to pull together. The absence of the willpower to build strong institutions in strengthening our democracy, coupled with the thriving thieves in the country have made it impossible for us to recover just like our neighbors. The collapse of, just about, everything and the lack of genuine efforts to rebuild the country is plunging the entire country to the lower depths.
Since the end of our civil conflict in 2003 and the conduct of free and fair elections of a democratic and functional government in 2005, the Country has been paralyzed. There is no laid out master plan (long-term policy strategy and logistical or infrastructure plan) to serve the population explosion in the country. The worst of all, after 9 years, reconstruction has barely started. Liberians still do not have clean drinking water, though our leaders tell the international community that 60% of Liberians have safe drinking. No standard educational programs: our educational system is arguably the worst on the African continent. No health care programs: the Ebola epidemic has exposed our weaknesses in this area as compared to our neighbors. No enough electricity: we were told in 2005 that Monrovia was going to be electrified in six months. Nine years have passed and not even 20% of Monrovia is electrified, let alone the entire country. And even this limited electricity that is available is iffy.
The Government can’t deliver basic services to improve the lives of its citizens. There is no concerted effort to build infrastructures and the outdated crumbling bridges- still standing like monuments. Roads riddled with potholes that resemble a moonscape are in desperate need of repairs. The condition of the roads usually lead to terrible traffic jams and congestions. Raw Sewage is still flowing in the streets of Monrovia.
Jobs needed to turn the country into a functional state are nowhere. A colleague working for an international institution remarks ‘’Liberia is too hard country to help. Liberia is now circling the drain and hopes to catch up with Somalia, Congo or Robert Mugabeville’’. The country flows down the drain, rolling backward and probably heading for trouble.
Negligence and willful blindness and insensitivity to the plight of the people are in plain sight with huge human rights crisis, thereby making the country a time-bomb that can explode at any time.
Politicians lack the willpower and motivation to serve their communities in order to leave a well-meaning and lasting legacy. The government is satiated with incompetent politicians who have no clue on what to do, when to do it and where to do it
In this deranged economy, is rapidly falling in all socio- economic indicators, the rising cost of living/ quality of life, affordable meal and housing, health care, and education and you name it. The people who have been hurt the worst are the poor. The poor people have been deprived of decent schools and other services. The poor are living in desperate circumstances, growing worried and weary and pathetic as the prices of goods are soaring or climbing by the day. No real employment and good education for the young people. The situation may accelerate and get even worse and this country may fall into ruin, shambles or poverty stricken ghetto.
Great countries emerge from strong leadership that is not beholden to the vested interests of followers or cronies. When the rule of law isn’t strong enough to contain greed, all ‘heck’ break loose. Let us hope that our national government will find wisdom to revert to creative management and innovation to restructure this country to a cohesive nation. Otherwise, our country will wither and die!
