“Electing Poor People Is Our Biggest Mistake”

By Kruah Thompson

Monrovia, June 11, 2026 — Simeon Freeman, Political Leader of the Movement for Progressive Change (MPC), has launched a sharp critique against President Joseph Boakai’s administration, arguing that Liberia’s persistent governance and economic challenges stem from a pattern of “electing poor people to power.”

Speaking in Monrovia on Wednesday, Freeman, a prominent businessman and politician, asserted that leaders who enter public office without personal wealth often shift their focus from public service to self-enrichment. “When you elect a poor person, their objective changes.

Instead of focusing on the reason they were elected, they begin thinking about acquiring wealth for themselves,” Freeman said.

He cited President Boakai as an example, claiming that the President’s circumstances improved dramatically after winning office. “Look at the President himself. He was practically sleeping and giving up on life, and today he has renewed hope.

Everybody is saying, ‘the papay skin shining.’ Yet this is the same man who, after 12 years as Vice President, could not afford a private medical trip, and it became a national issue,” Freeman argued.

Freeman maintained that elected officials who have struggled financially are more likely to prioritize personal benefits—such as houses and vehicles—over national interests. “When you don’t have anything and you are elected, your objective is different. You will want houses, cars, and new clothes,” he stated.

However, Freeman distinguished between those who rise from poverty through business success and those who seek wealth through public office.

He argued that individuals who achieve success in the private sector develop a solution-oriented mindset that can benefit national leadership. “A wealthy person can be dishonest, and a poor person can also be dishonest,” he acknowledged.

“But science has shown that the probability of a poor person wanting to acquire wealth when he gets into power is much higher than someone who is already living the dream.”

Freeman questioned the Boakai administration’s ability to drive meaningful change, claiming it lacks the vision and leadership required for national transformation.

He also emphasized the importance of leveraging local expertise over international consultants for Liberia’s development challenges.

“Those things are not my objectives because I already have them,” Freeman said. “When I become president, I will go straight for the meat, which is changing the country and making it better.”

Freeman highlighted his own journey from poverty, recounting how he sold goods on the streets of Monrovia before building a successful business career.

 “I did not inherit a dime from my parents,” he said, noting that his achievements reflect years of work in the private sector rather than inheritance or government service.

He concluded that the direction of any government depends on the vision and drive of its leader quality he claims is lacking in the current administration. “If the President has a clear vision and the determination to implement it, the country can move forward,” Freeman said.

While recognizing that many people from humble backgrounds are honest, Freeman maintained that successful individuals should be given greater opportunities to lead, as they are less likely to use public office for personal advancement. “It is good to put successful people in power.

Too often, people only become successful after they enter government. Their lives change, they build houses, and they become wealthy.”

Freeman concluded that his own rise from poverty fuels his desire to improve conditions for all Liberians. “While I came out of poverty and was able to do something for myself, I want to do the same for my country,” he said.