In a glaring display of political dishonesty, the Unity Party-led government under President Joseph Nyumah Boakai has once again tried to whitewash the role of former President George Manneh Weah in a major national development project; this time, the World Bank-funded Model Senior Secondary School recently commissioned in Gbarnga, Bong County.
Despite clear evidence that the project was initiated during the administration of President Weah, specifically under the Ministry of Education led by Prof. Ansu Sonii; officials of the current regime have deliberately distorted the narrative, claiming the project as their own or conveniently tracing it back to the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf era.
This is exactly why my Honest Politicking series exists: to call out deliberate historical revisionism, hold political actors accountable, and defend factual integrity in Liberian public life.
What Happened?
At the official dedication of the Model School on July 21, President Boakai and his surrogates, including ruling party stalwart Mo Ali, made no mention of the Weah administration’s role in initiating and securing World Bank funding for the school. Instead, the project was framed as a Boakai achievement; or at best, a continuation of Madam Sirleaf’s vision.
In a widely criticized Facebook post, Mo Ali wrote:
“Here are two facts about the school project our guys are laying claims to…”
Omitting Weah’s name entirely, Ali attempted to rebrand the project as a Unity Party-led initiative.
But Liberians Are Pushing Back
Veteran journalist Julius Jeh responded swiftly, publicly calling out the attempt to erase Weah’s role. Others joined the online resistance, flagging this as a textbook case of dishonest politicking.
Former Deputy Education Minister Alton V. Kesselly, a key figure in the model schools rollout, also made remarks at the event that ignored the critical role the Weah administration played in actualizing the project from policy to procurement.
This silence is not accidental; it’s a political strategy.
The Facts: World Bank Records Don’t Lie
According to World Bank documentation and corroborated posts from credible education officials, the Model Secondary School initiative began in 2019, during President Weah’s first full year in office. The concept, grant manual, and financing model were developed under Prof. Sonii’s stewardship. Construction was launched under his leadership in coordination with Alton V. Kesselly.
So how does a government walk into a completed project, cut the ribbon, and delete the names of the actual initiators?
Honest Politicking Stands Firm
This isn’t an isolated incident. There is a pattern of Unity Party officials hijacking projects started under President Weah; from roadworks and campus renovations to health infrastructure; while refusing to credit his administration. These deliberate omissions aren’t just petty; they are fundamentally dishonest and corrosive to Liberia’s fragile democratic culture.
When governments rebrand inherited projects as their own, they:
Undermine transparency
Mislead the public
Deceive voters who deserve to know the true timeline of national progress
The Honest Politicking series exists to remind Liberians that truth matters in governance. When you distort history to score political points, you poison public trust.
The Bigger Picture
As Liberia inches toward economic recovery and political stability, this is not the time for partisan pettiness. It is time for responsible governance, honest credit-sharing, and respect for the institutions that outlive political cycles.
President Boakai must rise above this trend. His silence in the face of blatant misinformation from his party’s communicators makes him complicit. If he truly believes in “Fixing the Country,” then fixing the truth must be a priority.
The Gbarnga Model School was initiated under George Weah, designed under Ansu Sonii, and funded by the World Bank long before Boakai took office. Anything else is political dishonesty and the Unity Party must be held to account.
As Honest Politicking continues, we will not relent in confronting these falsehoods; no matter who is in power.
Liberia deserves better. Liberia deserves the truth.
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