By: Julius Konton
A Century of Promises, Decades of Excuses
More than one hundred years after Firestone Rubber Company established operations in Liberia, and twenty-three years after the guns of civil war fell silent, the country remains trapped in what critics describe as structural poverty, weak governance, and chronic leadership failure.
That stark verdict has been delivered once again , this time by Liberian economist Samuel Jackson, whose latest commentary has ignited intense national debate and exposed uncomfortable comparisons between Liberia and global success stories.
“Liberia should not be celebrating a US$1.2 billion national budget,” Jackson argues, “when Singapore with nearly the same population operates a US$143 billion budget and a GDP that dwarfs ours by hundreds of billions.”
The Numbers That Shame a Nation
Liberia, with a population of approximately 5.3 million, currently records a GDP of about US$4.7 billion, according to World Bank estimates.
By contrast, Singapore, home to roughly 5.9 million people, boasts a GDP of approximately US$647 billion more than 137 times larger.
For Jackson, the comparison is not meant to flatter Singapore, but to expose Liberia’s governance deficit.
“Population is not our problem,” he insists.
“Leadership is. Vision is. Accountability is.”
He further highlights Singapore’s direct social support system, where:
Every household receives about US$800 in government vouchers, and
Every citizen turning 21 receives between US$600 and US$800 in state support.
“In Liberia,” Jackson notes, “citizens receive speeches, slogans, and excuses but little economic dignity.”
“Stop Blaming the Dead”
Perhaps the most controversial aspect of Jackson’s argument is his outright rejection of Liberia’s long-standing habit of blaming historical figures for present failures.
Former President Samuel K. Doe died nearly 36 years ago.
Former President Charles Taylor was removed from power nearly 23 years ago.
“Why are we still blaming them?” Jackson asks.
“How long does a nation mourn before it takes responsibility?”
According to him, Liberia has experienced 23 uninterrupted years of post-war governance, with no armed conflict, no rebel factions, and billions of dollars in aid, loans, and concessions.
“There has been no gunfire only logos, slogans, and branding,” he writes, mocking what he calls the politics of public relations over policy substance.
Concessions, Corruption, and a Bloated State
Jackson points to structural corruption, opaque concession agreements, and an overextended civil service estimated at over 70,000 government employees as key drivers of Liberia’s economic paralysis.
“These concessions enrich companies and political elites,” he argues, “but they leave communities poor, roads broken, and hospitals empty.”
He describes it as a post-war political economy designed for survival, not development, one that prioritizes loyalty networks over productivity.
A Direct Attack on the ‘Rescue Mission’ Narrative
Jackson reserves his harshest criticism for members of the current political leadership, particularly those now governing under slogans such as “Rescue Mission” and “Love Liberia.”
“I am surprised,” he writes, “to now see leaders claiming to love Liberia after years of rhetoric that damaged the country’s image.”
He recalls past political campaigns that accused former President George Weah of:
Being an alleged drug dealer,
Orchestrating a fake US$16 billion ‘missing money’ scandal,
Even spreading claims that young people were killed for ritual purposes.
“Was that loving Liberia?” Jackson asks pointedly.
“Or was it political desperation disguised as activism?”
He further criticizes past calls for U.S. sanctions against Liberia, arguing that such actions undermined investor confidence and national credibility.
A Generational Reckoning
At the core of Jackson’s argument is a demand for generational accountability.
“It is ignorant,” he writes, “to keep blaming old men and women who were caught up in the chaos of 1980, instead of demanding results from those who have governed peacefully for more than two decades.”
For him, Liberia’s tragedy is no longer war, it is wasted peace.
Poverty Is a Choice, Not a Curse
Jackson’s critique has divided public opinion, with supporters praising his brutal honesty, while critics accuse him of oversimplifying Liberia’s historical challenges.
Yet one reality remains difficult to dismiss: Liberia has had peace, time, and resources but little transformation.
As Jackson bluntly concludes:
“Poverty in Liberia is no longer inherited. It is maintained.”
