Published: July 14, 2025
MONROVIA – July 17 is fast approaching, and all eyes are on what the day might bring—especially with a much-publicized protest expected to take place in Monrovia and its environs. Voices from the market agree that living conditions are harsh, but there are differing opinions about the protest.
The Liberian Investigator on Sunday visited the streets of Paynesville, focusing on the commercial center of Red Light, where interviews conducted showed that while people support different political parties and ideologies, everyone agreed that Liberia is not improving in terms of governance—something they say is crucial to transforming living conditions from deplorable to decent.
For some, there is no need to protest, as protests have never yielded good results—especially when it comes to governments taking petitions or concerns seriously. For others, protest is the only way to keep the government’s feet to the fire and compel it to re-examine its campaign manifesto and compare it to the policies it has put in place to deliver on those same campaign promises.
Eight male voices and seven female voices spoke to the microphone of The Liberian Investigator, highlighting their disapproval of the Unity Party-led government’s failure to ensure that prices of basic commodities are reduced—even lower than what they were during the administration of former President George Weah, from 2018 to 2023.
Anthony J. Menyon is a returnee from Ghana and now sells gasoline along the street in the 72nd Community, SKD Boulevard. Like everyone else, he expressed his “sadness” over the fact that Liberia is yet to guarantee its citizens a decent life.
“It is true that things are really not going well,” Menyon said.
He noted, however, that protest is not the best way forward.
“In the same vein, we have to exercise patience and find another way of engaging the government—by speaking through the various media and expressing our dissatisfaction in terms of how the economy is going,” he added.
Joseph Kamara sells T-shirts in Red Light. His opinion is that the protest is necessary.
“Protest is the only language governments in Liberia listen to. They lie to us when they are seeking power, but the moment they get it, they forget to even care about whether they made promises during the campaign period that made people vote them into power,” Kamara said.
He admonished, however, that protesters should be peaceful and orderly in their conduct as they step out on Thursday, July 17.
Alex Tokpah is a motorcyclist, and he supports the protest.
“They lied to us. We have to keep reminding them that we who voted them into power are still around. We said George Weah was not doing well, and we removed him through the ballot box. We expect this Unity Party government to be different. President Boakai comes with a lot of public service experience, and we will take no excuse for failing to deliver on the promises made to all of us in 2023,” Tokpah said.
He said he will not be present to participate in the protest, but he supports it from the heart.
“I am not concerned about who is organizing it. Those who organized the June 7 and other protests yesterday were not angels. They too had problems, but we supported them because the general good of the country was at stake,” he noted.
According to the motorcyclist, the police are not doing well.
“They are desperate to make money for themselves rather than do their actual work. They lied to us by making us pay money for all of the requirements that should have allowed us to ply through the main streets, but after collecting our money, they turned against us.”
He called on those who will be out on the streets to protest to be law-abiding and ensure the protest remains peaceful.
Prince S. Lahai sells footwear in Red Light and is against the protest.
“I don’t support protest. When the day turns bad, people get wounded. People should express their concerns because it is their right, but I don’t support it—even though their action might benefit us too. Things are difficult, but I don’t think protest has helped in this country,” he said.
Akoi Dorleh is a mechanic and driver. He spends a good portion of each day at a garage near Bob Taylor’s residence in Red Light. In an interview with The Liberian Investigator, Dorleh alleged that police harassment is on the rise and the government has done nothing to curtail it.
“I am particularly supporting the protest because of the brutality the police continue to direct at all of us. Imagine, when the government had just come to power, there was a protest in Kinjor, Grand Cape Mount County, and the police fired live bullets and killed innocent and unarmed civilians. Today, nothing has come out of that. It’s embarrassing. They criticized the Weah-led government yesterday, but they are doing even worse today,” he said.
He also noted, “Police stop you most times without telling you what violation you’ve committed, but in the end, they force you to pay them money. This is sad, and it needs to stop.”
Frank D. Karpee does not support the protest, arguing that it will do nothing to change the prevailing conditions.
For Karpee, it is worth allowing President Boakai to complete his six years in office as guaranteed by law—and then vote the Unity Party out.
He did not say which other political party should be considered to succeed the JBN-led UP, but noted that regime change should continue to send a clear message to politicians that they do not own the country.
“I think we should bear everything now, and when the six years come to an end, we change the president,” Karpee said.
James S. Siaffa is a money exchanger in Red Light who, like many others, is unhappy with the Boakai-led regime.
“During the campaign, the Unity Party made a lot of promises, and it’s the people’s right to protest when things are not going the right way. I’m a Unity Party partisan now. I voted for George Weah in 2017, and in 2023 I voted for Boakai and became a Unity Party supporter. But to be frank, the UP has so far failed in the one year and several months of running the country. They need to do better.”
Jeremiah G. Kamara sells used footwear in Red Light. His mindset is that going out to protest in Liberia is a waste of time.
“Nothing will change in this country. Things will continue to be difficult, no matter who is president. When Ellen left power, we thought George Weah could change things and make the country better, but everything got worse. I don’t expect any good from Boakai. That’s why I don’t go out campaigning for any politician. I depend on my hustle,” Kamara said.
Roseline Duo Philip is a survivor of the 1990 Lutheran Church massacre in Sinkor. She lives with trauma and a fear of seeing Liberia return to its ugly past.
“I am not happy about protest in this country. Protest brings problems. I am a survivor of the Lutheran massacre. Each time I hear about anything that could lead to crisis, I feel so bad. We just came from 14 years of war and are trying to put this country back together. Liberians, let’s think about how we can do good things for our children,” she pleaded.
Mrs. Philip lost her father and uncle in the massacre, while her mother is still suffering from bullet wounds—more than 30 years later.
“One of my three surviving little brothers lost his leg to a bullet wound. His leg was amputated to save his life. I too have scars on me. I don’t like to be associated with anything related to conflict,” she said.
According to her, the 1980 coup followed the April 14 Rice Riot—a protest that led to deaths and arrests.
“I was 12 years old when we were fired at in the Lutheran Church. I was not too small to know what went on. There are too many people who are angry in this country compared to those with calm hearts. That’s my fear, and I do not support protest,” Mrs. Philip concluded.
Naomie George supports the protest. According to her, living conditions are becoming worse and the government needs to be reminded that its honeymoon is over.
“Things are too hard in the country. Imagine, I don’t usually sell on Sunday, but I was forced to come and sell today because I didn’t sell a single T-shirt yesterday—not even one person asked for the price,” Ms. George explained. She said she won’t attend the protest, but supports it.
Like others, she decried police harassment. “They take our goods. Their only focus is how to get money from us. Sometimes we even lose our businesses in the process.”
She said, “When people going to protest pass by and I have money, I will buy water and give it to them.”
Mary Kollie sells Chinese-made women’s clothes. At the time of the interview, she said life for her and her family is deteriorating quickly. She blamed the police for allegedly destroying her once-viable business.
“Police are not doing well. They come and take our market. When you go for it, you have to pay money. Sometimes we don’t even recover the full amount of goods. Even when we don’t violate any rules, they come and take our goods simply because they want us to pay them.”
Kollie said she supports the protest and hopes the government listens to the many cries out there.
Hawa Kollie sells chicken parts—including feet and wings—along Pipeline Road. To her, protest is a waste of time and resources in Liberia.
“I can’t support protest in this country because lawmakers who support protests don’t take their families. None of their children go to the streets. Politicians continue to use us for nothing, and I’m not willing to let anyone use me anymore.”
She said that even if someone is injured, the protest organizers don’t look after them.
“I advise people to stay away from the protest,” she said.
Christine Sayba, like Hawa Kollie and others, is not in support of the protest. Her reason is that those who benefit from protests are always protected, while those who risk their lives suffer the consequences.
“When you have something to do and you’re not idle, focus on your hustle. Don’t go out to protest. If you die or get hurt, nothing will come of it,” she said.
Patricia James sells ladies’ slippers near the Lonestar Cell MTN point of sale and service center in Red Light. She supports the protest because, according to her, things are tough.
“My children are in school and I need to pay house rent, but business is not going. In George Weah’s time, I know how much I used to make. My waist bag used to be full. Things were not hard for me. Now I find it difficult to pay rent. I even owe last year’s school fees for my children and house rent. These things are worrying me. I normally don’t sell on Sunday, but I’m here because there’s no food on the table,” she said.
Hannah Bundor believes that since war entered Liberia in 1990, things have never been the same—and they may never be.
“What’s happening today is not unique to Joseph Boakai’s administration. When Weah was president, we complained and said Ellen’s time was better. So it is what it is,” she said.
Bundor admonished that those who show up for the protest should be peaceful, but advised against expecting quick fixes.
About the police, she said marketers in Red Light often disregard the rules.
“Police tell us not to put our goods on the main road, but many do. Let’s forget about police seizing the goods—what about our safety? We have to be fair to ourselves. Just the other day, a truck killed a man right here in Red Light because he refused to leave the road. In the end, he lost his life,” she said.
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