In Summary:
- The Youth League Chairmen of both Unity Party and Congress for Democratic Change in a radio debate have made separate claims about the first-year achievements of their respective party’s administration
- The claims are about inflation, Budgetary allotment to the University of Liberia, protecting free speech, and the launch of the national development agenda by the two administrations
- We have reviewed all the relevant evidence and sources to fact-check these claims and conclude that some of their assertions are correct while others are incorrect
On January 7, Toegar Cephus and Emmanuel Johnson youth chairmen of the Unity Party and the Coalition for Democratic Change respectively appeared in an OK FM radio debate to compare the first year achievements of the government led by both party’s their respective tenures.
The radio debate moderated by Ok FM journalist Julius Jeh was meant to assess the performances of the CDC administration under former President George Weah and the Unity Party under President Joseph Boakai.
The two radio debaters made several claims about achievements made by the respective ruling parties.
Claim #1
During the debate, Toegar Cephus claimed that inflation at the end of 2023 during the administration of the CDC was 10.1% and that the Unity Party’s administration had reduced it to 7.7%.
Said Cephas: “In 2023 inflation was 10.1% we have brought it down to 7.7% in our first year”.
Rating Justification
To fact-check this claim, we first reviewed the Central Bank of Liberia Annual Report for 2023. The report states that headline inflation at the end of December 2023 was 10.1%.
Also, data from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, shows that inflation rose to 10.1% in 2023 from 7.6% in 2022. However, it declined to 7.7% in 2024 under the UP Administration.
Conclusion
Based on this review, we conclude that Toegar Cephus was correct when he claimed that inflation in 2023 was 10.1% and dropped to 7.7% in 2024 during this current administration.
Claim #2
Cephas also claimed that during the first year of the CDC administration, the government allotted a little over US$15 million to the University of Liberia and the Boakai administration allotted over US$30 million in its first year in 2024.
Said Cephas: “For the first time the university of Liberia has over US$30 million allotted in their time they had a little over US$15 million allotted for the University of Liberia”
Rating Justification
To fact-check this, we reviewed the 2018 Approved National Budget. The budget shows that in the first year of the Weah administration, about US$16.39 million was allotted to the University of Liberia.
Meanwhile, in Boakai’s first year, the Approved National Budget for 2024 has an allotment of US$33.48 million to the University of Liberia.
Conclusion
Based on a review of the National Budgets, we conclude that Toegar Cephas is incorrect that US$15 million was allocated to UL under the CDC’s first year. The budget shows that in the first year of the Weah administration, about US$16.39 million was allotted to the University of Liberia.
Claim #3
Meanwhile, Emmanuel Johnson, the Youth league chair of the CDC claimed that President Weah, in his first year, submitted an instrument to the National Legislature to protect free speech.
Said Johnson: “He (President Weah) repeal sections of the Penal Law particularly section 11.11 on criminal label and section 11.12 on sedition”
We found an Executive Mansion press release dated June 5, 2018. The release announced that President Weah submitted a Bill to repeal some sections of the Penal Law of Liberia and decriminalize free speech in Liberia.
The release stated: “The Bill submitted May 31, 2018 seeks to amend Chapter 11 of Penal Law of 1978, repealing Sections 11.11 on criminal libel against the President; 11.12 on Sedition and 11.14 on criminal malevolence.”
Also, this article by FrontPage Africa reported that the bill was later passed by the House of Representatives in July 2018 and sent to the Senate for concurrence.
Conclusion
Based on this, we conclude that the CDC Youth League chair is correct that in the first year of former President Weah’s administration, he submitted a Bill to decriminalize speech.
Claim #4
CDC Youth League Chairman also claimed that the CDC administration launched its development agenda, the Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development, in less than seven months of its first year.
Johnson made the claim while arguing that the Unity Party under President Joseph Boakai did not launch its development plan in its first year.
Said Johnson: “In less than seven months the Republic of Liberia under the administration of President Weah launched the national development plan [Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development.
Rating Justification
A search of this revealed a Ministry of Finance October 2018 press release stating that “after series of validation of the PAPD”, His Excellency President George Manneh Weah launched the plan on Saturday, October 27, 2018, in Ganta, Nimba County.
FrontPage Africa in this news article published on October 29, 2018, with images of the launch of the plan in Ganta Nimba County.
Meanwhile, the Unity Party under President Joseph Boakai is yet to launch its national development plan tagged the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development. A recent press release from the Ministry of Finance states that the plan will be launched by President Boakai in Buchana, Grand Bassa County on January 15, 2025
Conclusion
Based on this we conclude that Emmanuel Johnson is incorrect that the Weah administration launched its Pro- Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development in less than seven months of the administration’s first year. However, he is correct that the Unity Party did not launch its development plan in year one of the administration.
The PAPD was launched 10 months into year one of President Weah administration and not within seven months as claimed by Johnson.
