Op-Ed By Anderson Slober Chea
Deputy Secretary General for Press & Public Affairs, Congress for Democratic Change (CDC)
LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA, JOSEPH NYUMA BOAKAI
Mr. President,
I ordinarily write short letters to the President. However, the nature of a recent official communication issued under the authority and seal of the Executive Mansion is sufficiently concerning to require more than a brief comment. This letter addresses issues of institutional integrity, public ethics, and democratic discipline that warrant serious reconsideration.
The presidency is not a personal platform, nor is it sustained by individual loyalty. It is a constitutional institution held in trust for the entire Republic. Language that appears to commend individuals for allegiance to a sitting President, rather than for identifiable service to the nation, weakens the essential distinction between the State and partisan or personal political support. This distinction is not symbolic; it is foundational.
Official presidential correspondence carries the full authority of the Liberian State and must therefore reflect neutrality, professionalism, and institutional restraint. The inclusion of informal identifiers or personal references in such correspondence diminishes the dignity of the office and departs from standards designed to prevent the personalization of state power.
Liberia’s Code of Conduct for Public Officials requires the exercise of public authority without favoritism or the perception of partiality. Even absent improper intent, preferential recognition based on political loyalty undermines public confidence in the impartiality of the Executive. The presidency must rise above individual allegiance. Official recognition should be grounded in verifiable public service and national contribution, not proximity or political support.
This is not merely a question of tone, but of precedent. What the presidency normalizes today becomes the standard others will follow. Strong leadership is not weakened by institutional correction; it is defined by it.
It is in the long-term interest of Liberia’s democratic credibility that official communications from the Executive consistently reinforce the clear separation between state authority and personal or partisan interests.
This letter is submitted to affirm institutional integrity, ethical governance, and the constitutional responsibility of the presidency to serve the nation above personal or partisan interest.
In the interest of the Republic,
Anderson S. Chea
