Monrovia, Liberia — Liberian activist and government critic Martin Kollie has appealed to public officials to conduct themselves with greater humility, warning against what he described as an increasing display of arrogance toward ordinary citizens.
Kollie, who backed the Unity Party during the 2023 general elections, said elected and appointed officials should recognize that their salaries and benefits are funded by taxpayers. He stressed that this reality places a responsibility on them to treat Liberians with dignity, respect and compassion.
He attributed the growing dependence of many citizens on politicians for financial assistance to Liberia’s worsening economic conditions, noting that unemployment, poverty and limited economic opportunities have left many struggling to meet their basic needs. Rather than criticizing those seeking help, Kollie argued that the government should focus on creating jobs and managing the country’s resources in ways that improve the lives of ordinary Liberians.
The activist also condemned the emerging practice of requiring recipients of financial assistance to sign receipts while threatening to publish those records at a later date. He described the practice as inappropriate and reflective of a troubling attitude among some public officials.
Kollie further reminded government officials that public office is a position of trust, not personal ownership, and urged them to demonstrate greater accountability, patriotism and a genuine commitment to serving the Liberian people.
His remarks follow recent comments by several government officials on Facebook indicating that they intend to issue or publish receipts documenting assistance provided to individuals in response to growing public criticism over requests for financial support.
