The meaning of good citizenship

The Perspective
Atlanta, Georgia
April 22, 2022

The principal and members of the faculty
Officials of government
Parents and Guardians
Members of the Students Council
Members of the Fourth Estate
Other distinguished ladies and gentlemen

Today, some students of this school will be inducted into office as leaders of the student council government of this school. Our country today is facing a serious problem with good leadership. But only good citizens can be good leaders of their country.

Against this background, I want to speak to you briefly on the topic: The meaning of good citizenship. What is good citizenship? Good citizenship is being willing and happy to give more to your country than your country can ever give you. John F. Kennedy speaking to the citizens of America, once said, “My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” Good citizenship requires dedication to duty and honesty in whatever a citizen undertakes to do or is assigned to do for his country.

A good citizen must always ask himself or herself the question, “How can I make my country better, or what can I do to make my country become a better place for everyone who lives in my country? With such a mindset, if you are a tailor, you will strive to be the best tailor, and you will be proud to hear, for example, that Liberia has the best tailors in the world. In other words, a good citizen must always promote the good name of his country by doing what is good for his country. President Andrew Jackson of the United States once said, “Every good citizen makes his country's honor his own, and cherishes it not only as precious but as sacred.” And Nelson Mandela once said, “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.” All of these quotations of these great men are about what each citizen can do for his country. A citizen guided by the principle of giving his best to his country will always do his best when he or she occupies any office in government.

A good citizen will always do everything not to bring shame and disgrace to his country. No good citizen can ever be happy when his country is disgraced or made into shame by its leaders. Over the last few years, Liberia has been disgraced by the actions of its leaders. For example, the level of bad governance in Liberia has generated negative comments from officials of Liberia’s main partner, the United States of America. For instance, Congressman Chris Smith, speaking about the current nature of governance in Liberia said, “President George Weah leads a kleptocratic government and begins his political corruption on the day he assumed office by depleting the government coffers for personal use while the people of Liberia suffer.” This statement was made by the Congressman last year. This year, President Joe Biden’s special representative at the Bicentennial Celebration of the arrival of the founders of the Liberian state, Ms. Dana Banks, cautioned the Liberian government and people in the following words, “Too many of Liberia’s leaders have chosen their own personal short-term gain over the long-term benefit of their country.

The expectation, sometimes, is that the United States and the rest of the international community will step in to solve Liberia’s long-term problems.
So let me be clear. The United States is a proud and dedicated partner and friend of Liberia.

But ultimately, only the Liberian Government and the Liberian people can tackle corruption, fight for accountability and transparency, and move this country forward.”

Linda Thomas Greenfield, former US Ambassador to Liberia and current US Ambassador to the UN recently said, “I say this, as a true friend of Liberia, and Liberians know me for being that friend. Liberia has a serious problem right now, and that’s taking on a number of issues, foremost among them is the issue of corruption”. She went further to say, corruption, “is government stealing from the people of Liberia, from the mouths of children. It takes away access to health care. It denies citizens their right to public safety. It stops the young people of Liberia from getting the education they deserve. It takes the future away from them. It prevents the country from having the healthy business environment that it needs to lift Liberians out of poverty. It has denied Liberia its place in history, a successful and prosperous country with so many resources to contribute to its people’s well-being.” Further, the current US Ambassador to Liberia not long ago, said, “Corruption prevents progress...”

These statements about the level of stealing in the Liberian government are a clear indication that President Weah and some top officials of his government are not demonstrating good citizenship. We the citizens, in our own best interest, should not allow this situation to continue. The evidence is clear that President Weah lacks the political will to fight corruption. In fact, he himself is corrupt. According to Congressman Chris Smith, he began his corruption “on the day he assumed office by depleting the government coffers for personal use while the people of Liberia suffer”. Today, Liberian people are suffering too much because they are getting poorer each day as a result of corruption by the Weah government. President George Weah has built more houses for himself than all the presidents of Liberia from Joseph Jenkins Roberts to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. The evidence can be found on the Robertsfield highway opposite the Baptist Seminary, 9th Street, and other places. He did not build these houses before becoming president. If he says he is not corrupt, then I challenge him to show the Liberian people where he got money from to build these private buildings. Next year, we must vote Mr. Weah and his bunch of thieves out of the office to stop them from continuing to steal our money. Good citizens do not steal.

Students, the day you are fortunate to occupy a government office, you should demonstrate good citizenship by not stealing from your country, but by serving your country with honesty, dedication, and dignity. I urge you to start practicing to be good leaders of Liberia tomorrow by being good leaders of the students of this school today. Government is a place to serve and not to steal. A better Liberia is possible with good citizens. Therefore, elect good citizens in the 2023 for a better Liberia.

I thank you.

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