By: Activist Martin K. N. Kollie
“Why almost every public official wants to travel on every foreign trip – Was President Boakai’s Campaign Promise to Run a “Modest Government” a Fact, a Farce, or a Fiasco?
This is a wake-up call to cut down on public waste.
Don’t believe us. Believe the facts. The truth is what we seek. Almost US$8 million has gone out of the window in 24 months just on foreign travels alone amid what we term as “The DSA Syndrome”.
At home and across the region, Liberians are the 2nd hungriest people in West Africa, next to Niger (Global Hunger Report, 2024).
This is happening at a time when US$7.99 million is being lavishly spent on foreign travels and US$7.84 million on so-called entertainment and food mostly for ‘big shots and/or VIPs.
Let’s make it simple for everyone (Source: Annex 5, Page IX, 2025 Approved National Budget):
1) Foreign Travel:
FY2024: US$2,022,412
FY2025: US$1,939,612
Sub Total: US$3,962,024
2) Foreign Travel Daily Subsistance Allowance (DSA):
FY2024: US$1,643,212
FY2025: US$1,742,009
Sub Total: US$3,385,221
3) Foreign Travel Incidental Allowance:
FY2024: US$306,602
FY2025: US$342,693
Sub Total: US$649,295
4) Summary on Foreign Travel in 24 Months (2024-2025):
1) Foreign Travel: US$3,962,024
2) Daily Subsistence Allowance: US$3,385,221
3) Incidental Allowance: US$649,295
4) Grand Total: US$7,996,540
Note: A table and a snippet of the Approved National Budget are also attached for simple interpretation/explanation. Our people deserve to know the truth.
Why pay a hefty subsistence allowance, and turn around to pay incidental allowance again to the same traveler amid scarce resources and competing national priorities, including mass joblessness and the cries of thousands of civil servants including volunteer teachers and health workers?
Was President Boakai’s Campaign Message to Run a “Modest Government” a Fact, a Farce, or a Fiasco? The latter appears plausible based on what we now see almost at the end of year two. It is time for Pres. Boakai to reflect on his campaign promises. Any such reflection or pause intended to readjust must begin with a massive cut on pubic wastage.
The national cake is still on the dinner table of economic vultures as the people watch from afar in misery and hunger. This is a wake-up call for a paradigm shift because time is running out as year two comes to an end in just four months.
The system in Liberia was designed by a few to oppress, marginalize, and suppress the majority. This is the system that we must disrupt and dismantle. The suffering in Liberia is artificial; man-made.
About The Author: Martin K. N. Kollie is an exiled activist and a former student leader in Liberia.”
