The National Youth Congress of the Alternative National Congress (ANC) has launched a stinging rebuke of the Boakai administration, accusing the government of deepening poverty, undermining democracy, and marginalizing vulnerable Liberians.
The fiery “State of the Youth Address” was delivered on July 10, 2025, at the party’s headquarters and painted a grim picture of governance under what they described as a “rescue regime turned repressive.”
The ANC youth began by commending Liberia’s election to the United Nations Security Council but quickly criticized the government for lacking a concrete foreign policy strategy. They warned against Liberia becoming a pawn in global power struggles and called for a sovereign diplomatic approach that serves national interests and regional partnerships.
The address fiercely condemned the government’s moratorium on heavy transport vehicles to southeastern Liberia, describing it as economic sabotage disguised as road maintenance. According to the youth congress, this policy risks starving entire communities and is a deliberate punishment against regions that do not politically align with the ruling establishment.
The youth congress also denounced the national identification card policy as a “state-sanctioned assault on the poor.” They criticized the rollout process as chaotic and dehumanizing, citing long queues, malfunctioning equipment, and a lack of empathy from workers.
They accused the government of prioritizing revenue generation over citizens’ dignity and called for a temporary halt to enforcement until the process is improved.
In their remarks on governance and justice, the ANC youth alleged that the Boakai administration has weaponized state institutions against dissenters while shielding allies from accountability.
They pointed to the suppression of lawmakers, politically motivated charges, and a lack of transparency in investigations such as the Capitol fire incident as signs of creeping authoritarianism.
The group further blasted the government’s reburial campaign for former presidents as an exercise in elitist hypocrisy, arguing that it neglects victims of political violence who have yet to receive justice or acknowledgment.
The ANC Youth Congress accused the administration of enforcing a double standard in the justice system, where political opponents face harsh treatment while allies go unpunished.
The political youth group urged President Boakai to clean up his inner circle before speaking of anti-corruption reforms.
Addressing the issues of socio-economic landscape, the youth described Liberia as a nation where rural neglect is rampant, unemployment is widespread, and public services are in shambles.
ANC Youth League lamented the suffering of market women, teachers, and graduates and condemned the government’s willingness to trade natural resources for short-term financial gain with foreign investors. Though critical, the youth congress also outlined solutions.
They called for national economic empowerment through a public loan scheme, the establishment of fully equipped high schools in every district, youth service programs for graduates, support for Liberian-owned businesses, genuine national reconciliation, and a lifestyle audit of top government officials, including the president.
The address ended with a rallying cry to the youth of Liberia, urging them to recognize that their struggles are not ordained by fate but are the results of policy choices that can be reversed.
Declaring a continued commitment to advocacy and activism, the youth congress promised to speak out regularly and mobilize nationwide in pursuit of a just, accountable, and inclusive Liberia.
