President Joseph Boakai’s annual address to the nation, which resembled a work of fiction more than a factual assessment, contained grandiose claims that have been swiftly dismantled by independent fact-checkers and economic data. The President’s message, intended to project an image of transformative achievement, has instead been labeled a “bundle of lies.’
A central pillar of President Boakai’s speech was the boast that his administration has “created more than 70,000 short and medium-term jobs.” This claim stands in glaring contradiction to the lived experience of citizens and available economic indicators. Unemployment continues to soar, with young Liberians taking to the streets in frustration. No verifiable data from the Ministry of Labor or independent institutions supports this 70,000 figure. Economists contend that if such a jobs boom were real, it would be reflected in increased tax receipts and consumer spending data, neither of which has materialized. The claim appears to be a desperate attempt to manufacture a legacy of prosperity where none exists.
Fantasy GDP Growth Versus Central Bank Reality In a particularly egregious manipulation of statistics, President Boakai announced an economic growth rate of 5.1% for 2025, claiming it exceeded forecasts. This directly contradicts the official figure of 4.6% published by the Central Bank of Liberia—the nation’s primary monetary authority. Furthermore, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), a key partner, has corroborated the lower, more modest growth trajectory. By inflating this critical metric, the President has not only misled the public but has also sown distrust in Liberia’s own financial institutions, choosing political spin over factual reporting.
Perhaps the most absurd claim of the evening was that “3,791 streetlights” have benefited “over 124 towns and villages” in just four counties: Nimba, Grand Bassa, Rivercess, and Bong. Basic fact-checking reveals this to be an outright fabrication. Residents and local officials from these regions report that the vast majority of villages remain in total darkness, with the much-touted streetlights concentrated only in select urban corridors. The President’s numbers are not just exaggerated; they are physically impossible, revealing a detachment from the geographic and demographic truth of the nation he leads.
The President’s assertion that “over 198,000 farmers received government support” for rice and cocoa production has been met with derision from agricultural unions. Contrary to this rosy picture, thousands of farmers across Liberia have reported being forced to abandon their fields due to a crippling lack of access to seeds, fertilizer, and credit—a direct failure of the Boakai administration’s agricultural policies. The 198,000 number is unsubstantiated by any Ministry of Agriculture distribution logs and is viewed as a cruel joke by farming communities struggling to survive.
These falsehoods are not isolated incidents but part of a clear pattern. From inflated economic data to imaginary development projects, the Boakai administration’s message is built on a foundation of sand. While the President spoke of “transparency and accountability,” his speech was a masterclass in obfuscation.
The true State of the Nation is found not in these fabricated statistics, but in the overcrowded markets where prices remain high, on the farms left fallow, and in the homes of graduates without prospects. Until this administration chooses truth over fiction and tangible results over empty propaganda, the trust of the Liberian people will remain, like those 124 villages, in the dark.