Liberia’s president Joseph Boakai has cut his salary by 40 percent in what he stated as an effort to demonstrate responsible governance and togetherness with the society of Liberia. The resulting income effect will force his annual pay down from $13,400 to $8,000 per year. This decision is on the backdrop of increased living costs and spiriting that governmental employees’ salaries are higher than what is required.
The President’s move comes in the wake of a previous such action by his predecessor George Weah who reduced his salaries by a quarter. While some Liberians have accepted Boakai’s decision, others are disagreeing with the level of sacrifice Boakai is making, more so because he also has his daily allowance and medical facilities.
The current approximate budget of the presidential office is $2,999,994. A civil society member and executive director of the Centre of Transparency and Accountability in Liberia, Anderson D Miamen, welcomed the pay cut, but said the deductions should also be explained to the public. Another interesting opinion is belongs to W Lawrence Yealue II and being an advocate of government transparency he also approved the decision and said that the question of the president’s benefits should be discussed in the next budget session.
Besides, foregoing his salary, President Boakai vowed to strengthen Liberia’s Civil Service Agency for equitable remuneration of citizen’s employees in government. Members of parliament demonstrated their plight by arriving at parliament in tuk-tuks last week over glaring shortages of official cars.
Boakai who assumed the presidency in January this year, has declared his assets and in a move that shows he will not acceptable corrupt practices ordered an audit of the presidency with the results still awaiting the end. He has also bolstered the General Auditing Commission of the Lofa County and the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission to ensure he deals with any corruption and embezzlement of funds in the country.