Joseph Boakai: President of Liberia has Established to Lacerate his Paycheck by 40%

By Abdul Rahman Bangura-

NEW AFRICA DAILY NEWS (NADN) Freetown, Sierra Leone– According to sources from the President’s Office, Boakai desired to establish a precedent for “responsible governance” and demonstrate “solidarity” with Liberians.

Government paychecks have been under severe scrutiny just as Liberians kvetch about the growing cost of living. Around one in five people live on less than $2 a day in the West African state.

President Boakai disclosed in February that, his annual salary was $13,400. The scrape will carry it down to $8,000. Boakai’s motion reverberates that of his predecessor, George Weah, who took a 25% cut in his salary.

A modicum of West African countries have lauded President Boakai’s decision, but others wonder whether it is truly a sacrifice given that he also acquires concessions like a daily allowance and medical cover.

The presidential office’s budget is almost $3 million for 2014. Anderson D Miamen, from the non-profit organisation the Centre of Transparency and Accountability in Liberia, let out, the president’s pay cut is “welcoming”.

“We just hope that the public will clearly see where the deductions will go and how they will be used to positively impact the lives of the people,” he told the BBC.

Lawrence Yealue II, whose organization likewise campaigns for government transparency, characterized the president’s decision as “very commendable” and said that “leadership has to be provided from the top”.

And summed up that hoped Boakai’s benefits would be examined in the budget for the next financial year. As well as decreasing his salary, Boakai has vowed to “empower” Liberia’s Civil Service Agency to make sure public servants “receive fair compensation for their contributions to the country”.

Last week a group of lawmakers groaned they had not received their official cars, which they ought to perform their duties. As a form of protest, they turned up to parliament in tuk-tuks, known locally as keh keh, a common mode of transport for ordinary Liberians.

Boakai took office in January after defeating Weah in a run-off election. He swore to attack corruption and financial mismanagement. As well as announcing his assets since taking office, Boakai has mandated an audit of the presidential office. The results have not yet been released.

President Boakai has furthermore toughened the General Auditing Commission and the Liberia Anti Corruption Commission.

New Africa Daily News Abdul Rahman Bangura Reports, Africa Correspondent