A US-based Liberian pastor, Success A.B. Dennis, has strongly condemned the Unity Party-led government’s approach to impose taxes on religious institutions in Liberia under the pretext of permits. According to Pastor Dennis, this move is an attempt to stifle the independence of these institutions and exert government control.
Pastor Dennis believes that religious institutions are exempt from taxes primarily because they provide valuable social services to their communities, such as education, healthcare, and charitable aid. He expressed disappointment that President Boakai, a Deacon in the Effort Baptist Church, has quickly forgotten the pivotal role that faith based institutions have played and continue to play in Liberia.
The pastor highlighted the significant impact of faith based institutions on Liberia’s history and development, particularly in the context of the country’s independence. He noted that religions shaped Liberia’s culture, politics, and education system, and that religious leaders played a significant role in the country’s foundation and growth. Pastor Dennis delivered a scathing rebuke to the Boakai-led ‘Rescue’ government, accusing it of abandoning the Liberian people while the nation sinks deeper into misery. He criticized the government’s focus on political witch-hunts and its failure to address the pressing issues facing the country, including: Mothers and newborns stranded in JFK hospital due to unpaid medical bills, Transport Ministry workers protesting a concession deal that hemorrhages the country’s revenue, The University of Liberia in shambles with collapsing classrooms and rotting facilities, and lecturers selling grades, Staple prices skyrocketing, suffocating households, and mysterious deaths multiplying with silence from those in power.
Pastor Dennis urged the government to “Rescue what you came to rescue! Deliver on your promises and prove you can meet the needs of the suffering masses.” He cited Proverbs 29:2, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.” His warning was clear: “Liberia is mourning, and if wickedness in high places doesn’t end, the people will rise.”
