In a scathing assessment of Monrovia’s deteriorating cleanliness, former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has launched a stinging critique at the current state of sanitation in Liberia’s capital, labeling it a “disgustingly filthy city.” Her passionate plea, aimed squarely at Mayor John-Charuk S. Siafa, called for urgent and decisive measures to rectify this alarming issue.
During her candid interview with state media on Tuesday, Madam Sirleaf didn’t mince her words, voicing deep dissatisfaction with the rampant inadequacies in waste management and the blatant disregard for local sanitation regulations. With an unmistakable urgency, she urged city leaders to step up and enforce the necessary laws that would reinstate order and cleanliness in Monrovia.
“This city is in a deplorable condition and requires immediate attention. Inaction implicates us all,” she remarked, highlighting the severe public health risks presented by the rampant neglect of the urban environment and the detrimental impact it has on the city’s reputation.
Sirleaf emphasized the irony of government officials who travel abroad and return with an awareness of cleaner, better-managed urban spaces yet fail to implement similar standards back home. She notably highlighted Freetown, Sierra Leone, as a neighboring city making strides in urban management despite limited resources, attributing their success to dedicated local governance.
“Even the Ellen Johnson Ministerial Complex is surrounded by filth,” she lamented. “While we don’t want to deprive anyone of their means of survival, there are more organized ways to ensure cleanliness. After all, cleanliness is akin to divinity.”
As she targeted her comments toward Mayor Siafa, she expressed concern over the mayor’s potential limitations but underscored an urgent need for action. “I may not be privy to his challenges or aspirations, but he must take responsibility. It’s his role to address this pressing concern,” Sirleaf insisted, leaving an unmistakable call to action echoing in the halls of the capital.
