NATIONAL NEWS
MONROVIA – Sumo Mulbah, Representative of Montserrado County District #3, has commended President Joseph Boakai and Vice President Jeremiah Koung for facilitating the arrival of the first batch of earth-moving equipment, while urging the government to place stronger emphasis on sustainable job creation and wage reform.
In a letter to the Government of Liberia, Rep. Mulbah praised what he described as transparency in the procurement process.
By: Sampson W Weah sampsonwweah7@gmail.com
“My earlier concern about the reported cost of US$81 million was never intended as an attack on the administration,” Mulbah wrote. “It was meant to address discrepancies and to ensure accountability in the use of public resources.”
He said the subsequent reduction in the reported purchase price demonstrates the importance of public scrutiny.
“This development proves that when citizens speak out responsibly, especially through social media and other platforms, government can respond positively,” he stated. “Such actions help to build public trust in governance.”
The lawmaker also referenced assurances from the chairman of the earth-moving equipment management initiative that the program is expected to generate more than 1,000 jobs.
However, he stressed that infrastructure development alone will not solve Liberia’s economic challenges.
“While roads and energy projects are critical, true national development requires moving Liberians from informal and vulnerable work into stable and productive employment,” Mulbah noted.
Citing labor data, he said nearly 78 percent of Liberia’s workforce remains in vulnerable employment, limiting access to steady income needed to meet basic needs such as school fees, transportation, and medical care.
“Without decent jobs, many families will continue to struggle to benefit from government programs and social services,” he warned.
Mulbah also cautioned that high youth unemployment could threaten political stability.
“A large population of unemployed young people is a national security concern,” he said. “History has shown that jobless youth are more easily manipulated and drawn into unrest.”
On food security, the lawmaker described nutrition as a key test of effective governance, noting that two out of every five Liberians face insufficient food intake.
“When children are hungry, free education loses its value because they cannot concentrate or learn properly,” he added.
He concluded by urging the government to balance its infrastructure drive with policies that promote job creation, wage reform, and food security, stating that only then will development efforts translate into lasting national progress.
