By Amos Harris
Monrovia, Liberia — Former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor has asserted that Liberia’s political opposition is “far from dead” and is actively working to create a unified policy agenda to challenge President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s government in the next electoral cycle.
Speaking on a local radio station over the weekend, Howard-Taylor, who is the Standard Bearer of the National Patriotic Party (NPP), a key member of the former ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), stated that opposition forces are consolidating their strengths and preparing a comprehensive roadmap to address the nation’s most pressing issues.
“The opposition has a plan,” Howard-Taylor emphasized. “We are putting it together. And in the next year, we will begin to talk about what we hope to do for the young people in this country, knowing that they make up 60 percent of our population.”
With President Boakai’s six-year term nearing its midpoint, the former vice president acknowledged the administration is in its foundational period but cautioned that the public’s demand for tangible results will intensify by 2026.
“Coming into 2026, we will now have to see what are the projects that they are working on, what are the new investments that he has attracted to Liberia,” Howard-Taylor said. “So I think we should still give them another year.”
She also struck a conciliatory tone, urging the public to be patient with the new administration. However, she underscored the importance of policy continuity, praising the government for completing projects initiated by the previous administration, such as a multilateral high school in Bong County. “That’s how government should work,” she remarked.
Howard-Taylor expressed dissatisfaction with what she called the Boakai administration’s reluctance to acknowledge the foundations laid by their predecessors. “Acknowledgment is powerful. Giving credit to those who started a project doesn’t diminish you; it elevates you as a reconciler, a unifier,” she stated.
Addressing speculation about the NPP’s future after the CDC’s narrow 2023 electoral defeat, Howard-Taylor acknowledged internal “hiccups” but confirmed that preparations for a comeback are underway. “We are looking forward to going to our national convention this December to elect a new corps of officers,” she said. Following the convention, the party plans a nationwide re-verification exercise to reconnect with its grassroots base, which she confidently declared remains strong.
Howard-Taylor welcomed the ongoing campaign against corruption but stressed the importance of impartiality. “I say it’s about time the fight against corruption was brought to the fold,” she remarked. “However, this fight should not be limited to the CDC; everyone who has misused public resources… must account.” She cited cases involving officials from both the former and current administrations, emphasizing that being summoned to court does not equate to guilt.
She also expressed support for recent citizen-led protests, including a demonstration by the STAND Movement and an upcoming women’s protest against the drug crisis. Describing the STAND protest as a “legitimate exercise of democratic rights,” she noted, “This was not a political stunt… That’s not something a president should ignore.” On the drug crisis, she called it a “national issue” that requires more rehabilitation centers and political will.
Howard-Taylor predicted that the 2029 general elections will be a definitive referendum on the Unity Party’s governance record. While she did not confirm her own political ambitions, she hinted at ongoing discussions among opposition parties to form a unified front.
“When the time comes, we will select a team. It may not be me. It may not be President Weah. But it will be someone who represents a credible alternative,” she revealed, citing a history of compromise within the opposition.
Despite the 2023 loss, Howard-Taylor remains optimistic, noting the razor-thin margin of defeat—just 17,000 votes—as evidence of a sharply divided political landscape. She pointed to the Weah administration’s flagship initiatives, such as free WAEC exam fees and tuition-free public universities, as achievements that continue to resonate with the electorate.
For now, Howard-Taylor declared her unwavering loyalty to the NPP. “I’m NPP by heart, by soul, by blood,” she said. “These are dry days, but I believe they won’t last forever.”
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