MONROVIA – The exiled Liberian activist, Martin K. N. Kollie, was known as ‘Rescue Rambo’ during the campaign in 2023 to unseat former President George Weah democratically in the 2023 General Elections. During that period, activist Kollie put himself in the firing line for the then opposition Unity Party and its alliance parties in their campaign to politically wrestle the presidency of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) after six years of what they termed as ‘misrule’ of the state. After months of heated political campaigning in 2023, the Unity Party and its alliance parties successfully defeated the CDC of George Weah and securing the Liberian presidency based on the promises proffered by candidate Joseph Nyuma Boakai and his supporters. Fast forward to 2025, ‘Rescue Rambo’ in Martin K. N. Kollie has continued his advocacy for a sitting government to always uphold its promises in the interest of the Liberian people.
In his latest missive to President Boakai which was posted on his official Facebook Page, the exiled Liberian activist writes under the title: “Why almost every public official wants to travel on every foreign trip – Was President Boakai’s Campaign Promise to Run a “Modest Government” a Fact, a Farce, or a Fiasco? In his missive, Kollie’s latest writeup is a wake-up call to cut down on public waste. He begins, “Don’t believe us. Believe the facts. The truth is what we seek. Almost US$8 million has gone out of the window in 24 months just on foreign travels alone amid what we term as “The DSA Syndrome”. “At home and across the region, Liberians are the 2nd hungriest people in West Africa, next to Niger (Global Hunger Report, 2024). This is happening at a time when US$7.99 million is being lavishly spent on foreign travels and US$7.84 million on so-called entertainment and food mostly for ‘big shots and/or VIPs. Let’s make it simple for everyone (Source: Annex 5, Page IX, 2025 Approved National Budget): 1) Foreign Travel: FY2024: US$2,022,412 FY2025: US$1,939,612 Sub Total: US$3,962,024 2) Foreign Travel Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA): FY2024: US$1,643,212 FY2025: US$1,742,009 Sub Total: US$3,385,221 3) Foreign Travel Incidental Allowance: FY2024: US$306,602 FY2025: US$342,693 Sub Total: US$649,295 4) Summary on Foreign Travel in 24 Months (2024-2025): 1) Foreign Travel: US$3,962,024 2) Daily Subsistence Allowance: US$3,385,221 3) Incidental Allowance: US$649,295 4) Grand Total: US$7,996,540
According to ‘Rescue Rambo’ Kollie, why pay a hefty subsistence allowance, and turn around to pay incidental allowance again to the same traveller amid scarce resources and competing national priorities, including mass joblessness and the cries of thousands of civil servants including volunteer teachers and health workers? He goes on to question: “Was President Boakai’s Campaign Message to Run a “Modest Government” a Fact, a Farce, or a Fiasco? The latter appears plausible based on what we now see almost at the end of year two. It is time for Pres. Boakai to reflect on his campaign promises. Any such reflection or pause intended to readjust must begin with a massive cut on pubic wastage.”
Concluding his missive to the President, Kollie says, “the national cake is still on the dinner table of economic vultures as the people watch from afar in misery and hunger. This is a wake-up call for a paradigm shift because time is running out as year two comes to an end in just four months. The system in Liberia was designed by a few to oppress, marginalize, and suppress the majority. This is the system that we must disrupt and dismantle. The suffering in Liberia is artificial; man-made.” Martin K. N. Kollie is an exiled activist and a former student leader in Liberia. He is currently pursuing a law degree in exile and has never shied away from pointing to ills in society and government in Liberia. Political pundits say despite Martin K. N. Kollie campaigning vigorously in 2023 for the Unity Party government to come to power, he has remained consistent in holding its feet to fire whenever it transgresses in running the state of affairs of Liberia. The question is will the Unity Party government headed by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai heed activist Kollie’s call for the government to cut public waste and shift the money to much needed priorities for the betterment of the Liberian people? Bookmakers are watching.
