IPNews-Monrovia: In an attempt to make the public regain confidence in the management of the Liberian economy under his leadership, Finance and Development Planning Minister Samuel Tweah, has been trying for days now going on a massive public relations engagement on his novel economic development plans. This new plan is intended to revive the nation’s struggling economy, which is now in the gutters.

Finance Minister Tweah’s famous “C+G=W” formula might just not be applicable according to financial expert and Economist Samuel Jackson and Simeon Freeman.

During one of his radio show appearances, Finance Minister Tweah is seen displaying the economy on a piece of paper.

Amidst the economic concerns, the Liberia Council of Churches (LCC) president, Bishop Kortu K. Brown has described as mere “paper talks” the economic policies put in place by the Economic Management Team (EMT) of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC)- led government, headed by Minister Tweah.

According to Bishop Brown, the economic policies being deployed by Mr. Tweah and others are only intended to impress the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank and other international partners but with no tangibles on the ground.

Bishop Brown stressed the need for the Liberian Chief Executive to take concrete actions in respond to citizens’ actions exhibited at the polls during the just-ended Special Senatorial election, which saw the main opposition party winning most of the seats in the Senate.

“The voters were loud and clear; the people say they want change and they do not like the way the CDC led-government is moving. President Weah needs to listen to what the people are saying. The people are saying that they are not happy with the CDC. He must respond to the demands of the voters.”

The Senate

Speaking further, Bishop Brown challenged newly elected Senators, who emerged from the December 8 Senatorial election, to stand for the improvement of the living conditions of their peoples.

He noted that despite the high level of excitement among citizens and those elected following the climax of the polls, Senators, bulk of who are from opposition political parties, should cement or ensure the establishment of an economic agenda to improve the living standards of citizens.

He said the formation of an economic agenda by new members of the Liberian Senate will help drive a holistic debate on the national budget.

The Liberian Clergyman, however, challenged newly elected members of the Liberia Senate to advocate and take actions in the interest of their people.

“The new Senate must be defined by a new direction that it wants to take to help take the country out of the numbers of challenges that we face. We will know a new Senate by the policies or economic proposals that they will bring to the table. There’s a need for an economic agenda that will drive national budget debates in the coming years”.

“The excitement can only be sustained by concrete actions that will transform the lives of the ordinary people. Other than that, those excitements will be short-lived. It will not last for long”.

Bishop Brown added that senators should ensure check and balance in the governance process of the nation.

He cautioned those new members of the Senate not to be like their colleagues, who according to him, swayed away from engaging into holistic debates on the national budgets in the past.

He observed that over the years, lawmakers have hastily passed national budgets without debating the line items to ensure that their people benefit from the national cake.

“There have been no real debates on the budget in the whole country. We have been disappointed that budgets have been passed hastily. The budget is not just numbers; it’s the tool for national development. What is the mandate of the opposition and the ruling party people to be able to advance the living standards of the people? There must be a real budget debate to be able to advance the country”.

2021-Year of Repentance, Reconciliation and Renewal

Bishop Brown, however, called on Liberians, especially government officials to see 2021 as a year of national repentance, reconciliation and renewal.

“This is a year that progress will be difficult if the country is not guided by the spirit of national repentance, reconciliation and renewal. All Liberians, including officials of government should be guarded by these things if we are to make any use of this New Year”.

He noted that government must place keen focus on improving the living conditions of its citizens by taking appropriate actions to advance what he calls “common cause” towards moving the country forward.(courtesy of Front Page Africa)