MONROVIA – Almost three years into the administration of former President George Weah, his predecessor Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, on Monday, December 21, 2020 tweeted what could be considered as a condemnation of the Weah-led administration over its failure to pay civil servants as the festive season approached.
“The opulence displayed at the lighting of the Liberian President Christmas Tree was indeed impressive, but with the country’s economic climate, it is an affront to the thousands who have not been paid and are hungry,” Madam Sirleaf tweeted in 2020.
Rebuking Replies
The former President, however, was rebuked on social media and many Liberians following her on Twitter, with many claiming that she aided and abated the Weah’s government ‘governance deficit’ that the country was faced with during his administration.
In reply to her tweet which she later took down, Stanley S. Woloquelli stated, “You are the one who caused us this. This is what we have, we will live with it.”
SlumBorn SlumRise, an X (formerly twitter) user, also replied, “Do you remember this? December 21, 2017 (showing a picture of Madam Sirleaf and Weah breaking ground). We will never forget… You put us in this mess…”
Daniel Luo: “With due respect, Madam President, you were and still part of the problems that keeping Liberia from making progress. You forced President Weah on the Liberian people.”
Former Pres. Weah’s Response
In a rejoinder to Madam Sirleaf’s tweet, former President Weah who prided himself as the only President who has carried out more developments than any President in Liberia’s history, posted to Facebook:
“Madam Former President, let me refresh your memory about what OPULENCE is: OPULENCE is when Chevron gives 10 million USD as CSR and you gave it to your son to squander. OPULENCE is when you have 4 billion in Foreign direct investment, but leave Liberia in abject squalor and poverty. OPULENCE is when you have 11 budget shortfalls in 12 years and yet spent tens of millions on failed projects like the Executive Mansion repair fiasco. OPULENCE is when you spent over a million dollars for Oil Law Consultations; only to bring your high school student grandchild to speak to experts. OPULENCE is when after 12 years of billions of dollars of Foreign Aid, you still leave the country with 1 billion dollars debt that my government is now paying back. There are 1000 more examples, but let me leave you with these for now. OPULENCE is not when you use an old Christmas Tree and Choirs to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus.”
Former Pres. Weah Equally Condemned
However, commenters under the former President’s post on Facebook bashed him for his refusal to initiate an audit or prosecute past government officials for alleged corruption and other misrule of the country.
Satta F. Sheriff: “It’s ironic how you didn’t even call out Ellen “Opulence” when she left power, but you graded her government 80%. No, it doesn’t work that way, you can’t just wake up one day and change your tone about Ellen because she called you out on Twitter.”
Christopher Neymar Vonziah: “Mr. President, you knew all these and still went ahead to protect her? This is a complete contradiction! Any society that responds to crimes by forgiving and taking bribes from criminals will inevitably create large contingents of criminal wannabes. Too sad for us.”
Sam Diego Togbah: “Mr. President, this is not enough of a response to madam Sirleaf. With all of what you have listed here, why can’t you use listed items here to prosecute this lady who is doing everything in her power to undermine your government? Mr. President, some of the many reasons that you are receiving the many criticisms is not because you are unable to govern well, but your refuser to punish madam Sirleaf and many of her government officials.”
Archie Sarnor: “Why you didn’t audit her? I think you people should stop making mockery out of the Liberian people because the both of you are playing game with us. But one day God will reveal the reality. I can see deception in the both of you.”
During the opulence noise of 2020, then opposition media figure Patrick Honnah joined in the condemnation and criticism spree of former Weah and his officials where showboating wealth in the midst of abject poverty Liberians were going thru.
Prior to becoming an opposition media figure, Patrick Honnah had served as Deputy Director General for Broadcast at state-owned Liberia Broadcasting Corporation (ELBC) during the administration of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. When Weah became President of Liberia, Patrick was seen as an opposition media figure who ridiculed the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) that joined forces with former National Patriotic Party (NPP) of former President Charles Taylor, Liberia People Democratic Party (LPDP) of former House Speaker Alex Tyler into alliance known as Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), during its campaign for the presidency. The Weah Administration used all within its power to subdue Honnah in every venture he tried to undertake, including the refusal to grant him a radio station operating license. And the rest is history.
It is alleged that the bitterness Patrick Honnah developed for the Weah Administration made him a strong critic in whatever it did when it steers the ship of state during the former President’s six-year-reign. And so, it became as no surprise when he joined in the opulence noise against the Weah’s government after former President Sirleaf blasted his successor for not doing what was required to lift the lives of Liberians to another level.
In one of Patrick Honnah’s post on his Facebook page against the then former Minister of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism, Lenn Eugene Nagbe, when the former Minister was criticized publicly for showboating and eating expensive lobsters and other cuisines in an expensive restaurant, he posted in Liberian parlance and wrote: “Da me sopoto campaign for Eugene dem to be eating lobster and eating big, big fish” Oh, “Far-gone” vex with the mandate ooo. So, nobody stupay here again ehn?”
But there is a saying, “He who calls for equity must come with clean hands.” So, fast forward to 2025, Patrick Honnah has come under huge public criticisms for doing exactly what he criticized the former CDC government of George Weah. Honnah was first criticized for reportedly amassing wealth at the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) with a monthly income of salary and benefits amounting to US$11,000. But prior to that he criticized the Weah Administration and its officials for overpaying themselves at ministries, public corporations, etc.
Fast Forward to 2025 ‘Opulence’ Noise Reawakens
When the video of Patrick Honnah, who now serves as one of the commissioners at the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA), where he is said to be making US$11,000 monthly in salary and benefits, hit the social media and went viral where he is seen flaunting money on a musical group that was performing at the birthday party celebration of current Minister of Information, Cultural Affairs & Tourism, Jerolinmek Piah, the noise of ‘opulence’ reawakened in public circles and on social media.
Martin K.N. Kollie – Political Advocate Writes
“Flaunting money was wrong yesterday. It is also wrong now amid joblessness. Patrick Honnah per year earns US$102,193 in salary, US$18,866.40 in trans excluding his US$3,622 for generator. He earns around $11K every month while civil servants get US$150.”
“Just got some documents. Commissioners, City Mayors, and Statutory Superintendents are still earning US$117. This is 1.06% of Patrick Honnah’s US$11K every month. It will take each of them 8 years to earn Patrick’s one month salary. Spraying money provokes them.”
Martin K. N. Kollie, who was known as ‘Rescue Rambo’ during the General Elections campaign of 2023, joined forces with then opposition Unity Party and its alliance parties to fight and defeat the CDC government of former President Weah. Since the ascendancy of the Joseph Boakai’s Administration, Kollie has not bitten his tongue but has been outspoken to expose and criticize deceptive elements in the Unity Party-led government of President Boakai.
Assigned City Solicitor Takes Patrick Honnah to Task for Flaunting Money
As the Patrick Honnah’s video of him flaunting money on Information Minister Piah’s birthday celebration in Brewerville spread rapidly on social media, an assigned City Solicitor/Prosecutor Garpue K. Wonlue, of the Ministry of Justice with assignment at the Omega Magisterial Court joined in the condemnation spree of the LTA Commissioner’s perceived opulence behavior.
In his writeup posted on social media and in local media outlets, Wonlue disclosed that about “90% of City Solicitors and Prosecutors are not on Payroll,” condemning LTA Commissioner Patrick Honnah for “Flaunting Money.”
According to City Solicitor/Prosecutor Wonlue, the display of wealth (flaunting of Money) by Commissioner Patrick Honnah during the Information Minister’s birthday celebrations, in a poor country where many struggle financially and especially where 90% of City Solicitors/Prosecutors are not on Government salary/Payroll can be perceived as insensitive and hurtful.
He stated Honnah’s action may also give birth to the following feelings: “Exacerbate feelings of inequality: Highlighting the wealth gap can lead to feelings of resentment and frustration among those struggling financially like the state prosecutors who are not on pay rolls; Create social tension: Flaunting wealth can be seen as disrespecting those who are less fortunate, potentially leading to social unrest therefore you have to stop Honorable Commissioner; Undermine social cohesion: and Excessive displays of wealth can erode trust and create divisions within communities.”
Concluding his statement, City Solicitor/Prosecutor Wonlue noted that: “With this, it is, my appeal to all Government officials who are involved in such conduct to stop on grounds that said attitude does not only create divisions within the communities but it also embarrasses a serious-minded government that is struggling to place all of its volunteers on salary (payroll) and to even increase the salaries of those who are earning less.”
Wonlue then iterates that in such contexts, “it’s essential to be mindful Commissioner Honnah of the impact of your actions on others and to promote a sense of empathy and understanding.”
Other Public Reactions to Honnah’s Flaunting of Money
Moses Zangar, Jr. writes: “In a village where folks go to bed hungry, a loudmouthed braggart and village councilman is braggadociously flaunting wealth. And they say this was wrong yesterday amid widespread hunger and joblessness, but justify that it’s right today under the same conditions. Sheer chauvinism and bigotry.”
LBS Dep. DG Criticizes Patrick Honnah Over Salary Disparities Amid Economic Hardship
Even Patrick Honnah’s colleagues in government have not minced words over is money flaunting behavior at Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah’s birthday celebration party.
In a Facebook post that has sparked significant discussion across Liberia, Mr. D-Flow Flomo II, the Deputy Director General for New Media & Rebranding at the Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS), has publicly criticized Commissioner Patrick Honnah of the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA). Flomo’s remarks come in the wake of widespread public discontent regarding rising unemployment, increasing hardship, and soaring prices, issues that were acknowledged by President Boakai in a recent Independence Day speech.
Deputy Director Flomo comment comes after Commissioner Honnah was seen spraying money on musicians at the birthday party of Information Minister Jerolinmek Matthew Piah at his resident.
“It is time that Patrick Honnah and those like him have their salaries cut to provide better support for those in critical service roles, such as city officials, teachers, police officers, and others who are on the front lines of our society,” Flomo asserts.
As the debate unfolds, it remains to be seen how government officials will respond to these concerns and whether any changes in salary structure will be considered as part of broader efforts to address the pressing issues facing Liberia today. Flomo’s remarks, while controversial, highlight the growing demand for transparency and fairness in the management of public resources.
What Lesson will Patrick Honnah Learn from These Criticisms?
Meanwhile political pundits, as well as die-hard Unity Party (UP) partisans and loyalists, may be wondering what lessons have Patrick Honnah learned from ongoing criticism concerning his money flaunting behavior among other ugly behavior, most especially when he was in the vanguard and badmouthing and criticizing the previous government and its officials for swindling public funds, amassing wealth, to the detriment of Liberians, who are abjectly poor.
These pundits have intoned that the very ugly things Patrick Honnah badmouthed against the former officials of the CDC-led government are the very things he has indulged in, including amassing huge salaries and benefits at the LTA, while civil servants are making peanuts. But, according to pundits is not advocating for any salary increment for civil servants since he secured a mouth-watering job at the LTA with such enormous monthly income of about US$11k, according to activist Martin K.N. Kollie.
The ball is now in the court of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai whether he will allow some of his officials to carry on ‘the business as usual’ pattern that has troubled the governance system of Liberia over the year, where the ordinary Liberian has always been the victim. The public is watching keenly.
