Liberia’s Finance Minister Boima Kamara Resigns Amid Economic Challenges; Economic Advisor to President Boakai Tipped as Successor
Monrovia, Liberia – In a significant development, Liberia’s Finance Minister Boima Kamara has tendered his resignation, citing health reasons and a desire to focus on other endeavors.
The resignation comes at a time when Liberia is grappling with severe economic challenges, including rising inflation, high unemployment rates, and a depreciating currency.
Kamara resignation mainly stems from the continued disregard of the rule of law by the presidency in the nation’s fiscal space. The issue of the controversial, shady earthmoving “yellow machines” saga, which flagrantly disregards the PPCC Law, and the utilization of the legislature to deliberate and rectify such a deal as enshrined in the Constitution, is keen. The second reason is that the Boakai-Koung Administration is shredding the wage bill by appointing more high-level officials than the Weah-Taylor Administration. The government is adding partisans to the wage bill, as was also done by the previous administration, something the Unity Party denounced when they were in opposition.
Credible sources in the Finance Ministry to Kukatonon News that Minister Kamara has tendered his resignation following immense pressure from President Boakai as he continuously refused to flow with the fiscal lawlessness being exhibited by the government. He has agreed to a new role in the Central Bank of Liberia.
Kamara’s resignation has sparked immediate speculation about his successor, with Mr. Morley P. Kamara, the current Economic Advisor to President Joseph Boakai, emerging as a leading candidate and is seen as a strong contender to take over the crucial role of Finance Minister. Morley, who is not known in the public spectrum told Frontpage Africa when he was appointed Economic Advisor that he is a graduate of Rutgers University-New Brunswick (undergraduate Economics) and has an MBA in Finance and Entrepreneurship from the Wharton Business School.
He also indicated that he had previously worked in Angola from 1995 to 1998; the Great Lakes Region (Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda) from 1998 to 2000; and Ethiopia and Eritrea from 2000-2001 before returning to college – the Wharton School for an MBA.
Pundits have it that he is inexperienced for the job because he has been out of touch with the fiscal and economic situations of Liberia before his appointment as economic advisor.
Monponwon Thabo said in a Facebook post that President Boakai should appoint people who understand the sector; “Either Vet. Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan or John Morlu not Morley Kamara. Let’s be serious around here. What has been his impact as an economic advisor on MTS?”
A Liberian financial expert based in Dakar, Senegal, terms the would-be appointment of the current economic advisor a mockery of the people who claimed to have been educated and fought the Weah-Taylor administration through propaganda. He also indicated that the current UP officials were not looking at the data from the CDC government and mocking everything they did when they were in power just to find out that the CDC government worked marvelously better than expected to keep the economy stable to a certain extent.
While the government has not yet made an official announcement regarding Kamara’s replacement, sources within the administration indicate that Morley Kamara’s appointment could be imminent. His potential ascension to the role is being viewed as one of the men in the president’s inner circle who would not stall any policy they implement, whether lawful or unlawful.
As Liberia awaits the official announcement of the new Finance Minister, there is cautious optimism that the transition will cause public outcry and paint a bleak picture of the country’s economic direction. The coming weeks will be crucial as the government seeks to reassure investors and the public of its commitment to sustainable economic development.
Liberian-born Emmanuel Orlind Cooper is an accomplished multimedia journalist with extensive experience covering news and stories on a variety of media platforms. Orlind's work frequently demonstrates his profound grasp of the region and its complexity, given his Liberian heritage.
Now residing in Woodbridge, Virginia, he keeps connecting with readers across continents with his perceptive journalism and sharing his viewpoint. He is well-respected in the sector because of his unwavering commitment to honesty and morality, which sets him apart in the field.
Orlind's work is more than simply his job; it's a dedication to giving voice to the voiceless, illuminating unsung tales, and advancing the worldwide conversation on important concerns. His goal as a journalist is to use the media's power to change the world, not just to disseminate information. He is a key player in modern journalism because of the inspiration, education, and engagement that his work consistently provides.