MONROVIA — Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon has delivered a stark assessment of Liberia’s economic situation, declaring that the nation’s economy remains “in the septic tank” more than a year into President Joseph Boakai’s administration. He attributed the ongoing crisis to the fiscal collapse he blames on the former government of President George Weah.
Speaking on a local radio show, Dillon repeated his blunt metaphor, accusing the Weah government of having “cemented” the country’s economy at the bottom. “The economy is still in the septic tank. I cannot slow my words on this. CDC left it in the septic tank caved, and it is still there,” Dillon said. He added that while President Boakai is working to lift it out, the recovery will not be a quick process. “You got to use detergent, you got to use solvent… you got to break it down,” he stated, emphasizing that the administration is “intentional about lifting the economy.”
A Look at the Liberian Economy from 2023 to 2025
Dillon first used the “septic tank” analogy in 2019, months after winning his Senate seat, to describe the country’s economic woes. Six years later, he insists the comparison is still valid.
While the economy has shown some improvement since late 2023, structural weaknesses persist. At the end of 2023, growth was at 4.6%, but inflation was high at 10.1%. Public debt was around 51% of GDP, and the country was vulnerable to fiscal deficits and debt pressures.
By 2025, economic growth is projected at 5.3%, with expansions in the agriculture and services sectors. However, inflation has been a stubborn challenge, rising to 13.1% earlier this year. The government has managed to narrow the deficit from over 7% of GDP in 2023 to 2.7% in 2024. Public debt has stabilized at 57%, and poverty has fallen from over 40% in 2022 to about 26% in 2024.
Boakai’s Steps and Political Tensions
Dillon acknowledged that President Boakai has taken action to address the crisis, including forming a committee led by Vice President Jeremiah Koung to review the economy and recommend reforms. He specifically highlighted the need to reform high port charges to ease the cost of doing business.
Despite his Liberty Party being a part of the governing alliance, Dillon stated he would not “sugarcoat” the reality. “You think I can sit down here and make one convenient statement because I’m part of the government and say it is roses out there?” he asked.
The senator also commented on recent political tensions, including Unity Party Chairman Luther Tarpeh’s controversial remark referring to the Liberty Party as a “Helping Verb.” Although the Unity Party has apologized, Dillon dismissed the explanation, calling the statement “deliberate.” He warned, “We will act accordingly when the appropriate time comes.”
Dillon criticized what he called a damaging cycle in Liberian politics where opposition parties wish for the government to fail. He called for a collective focus on economic recovery, stressing that criticism should be constructive, not opportunistic.
In conclusion, Dillon said, “The economy is still in the septic tank. Cemented. And we try to bust it out of there to bring it up… we are intentional about lifting the economy and that’s what we’re doing.”
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