IPNEWS: Liberia’s leading grassroots civil society movement and organizer of the upcoming December 17th “Lead or Leave” peaceful protest, the Solidarity & Trust for a New Day (STAND), expresses outrage over official revelations that the Unity Party leadership plans to construct new party headquarters across the country through fundraising programs being led, managed, and supervised by sitting government officials and senior cabinet members.
This reckless fusion of state power and party politics is a blatant abuse of public trust, a flagrant violation of the Code of Conduct, and a troubling signal that President Boakai’s administration is erasing the line between public service and partisan enrichment. STAND condemns this unethical scheme in the strongest possible terms and calls on all Liberians to remain vigilant against the creeping misuse of public office for party gain.
STAND’s unequivocal condemnation of the Unity Party’s decision to appoint senior government officials to its partisan fundraising committee is firmly rooted in the Code of Conduct for Public Officials, particularly Part V: “Political Participation.”
Section 5.1 of the Code expressly prohibits all officials appointed by the President from engaging in political activities or using government facilities, equipment, or resources to support partisan causes. The Unity Party’s action directly violates this provision by drawing serving officials into overtly political operations designed to advance the party’s interests.
Furthermore, Section 5.9 provides that any public official found in violation of these provisions, after due process, shall be immediately removed from office — a safeguard meant to uphold the integrity and impartiality of public service.
Likewise, Section 5.10 mandates that government employees must ensure their participation in political activities does not conflict with their official duties. The involvement of sitting officials in a partisan fundraising exercise is therefore a deliberate conflict of interest that undermines both the spirit and letter of the Code.
By appointing senior government officials to its partisan fundraising committee, the Unity Party and those involved have blatantly violated the Code of Conduct, committing a grave conflict of interest that undermines the very foundation of ethical governance. This reckless politicization of public office reflects utter disregard for accountability, transparency, and the rule of law, and stands as a shameful betrayal of public trust. It is unacceptable for individuals paid with the hard-earned taxes of struggling Liberians to use their public positions to advance the ruling party’s agenda — a brazen abuse of power that must attract the full weight of lawful consequences as prescribed under the Code of Conduct.
The Boakai administration would be mistaken to believe that Liberians have forgotten how, under this same government, over US $300,000 in public resources was reportedly siphoned through Unity Party channels to finance partisan celebrations surrounding President Boakai’s inauguration. As if that were not enough, the decision to appoint senior public officials to raise potentially millions of dollars to construct party headquarters across the country raises one chilling question: Are the people’s taxes once again being diverted to build the ruling Unity Party’s empire?
In light of this reckless and insensitive decision, STAND demands that the Boakai-led government immediately withdraws the appointment of cabinet officials in these partisan fundraising activities. Should the administration fail to act, Liberians will have no alternative but to view this as a deliberate misuse of their hard-earned taxes (a brazen act of corruption, a betrayal of public trust, and a criminal exploitation of state resources for political gain).
STAND reminds the President that state power is not party property, and public funds are not campaign fuel. The people of Liberia are watching, and they will not stand idle while their resources are abused under the guise of “party development.”
The line between party business and public service must remain sacred, consistent with the Code of Conduct governing public officials. To cross this line is to invite the judgment of history — and the wrath of the Liberian people.
Lead or Leave — Enough is Enough.
Last week, the Unity Party (UP) of Liberia announced that the groundbreaking ceremony for its national and county headquarters will take place on December 6, 2025. The event the Party states is part of a larger fundraising and homecoming program intended to strengthen the party’s presence across the country.
Event details
The groundbreaking ceremony for the Unity Party’s national and county headquarters is scheduled for December 6, 2025. The program aims to raise funds for constructing a national headquarters and offices in all 15 counties of Liberia. Its theme is “Positioning the Unity Party for Long-Term Political Vibrancy, Policy Reform, Infrastructural Development, and Membership Drive”. Fundraising committees have been established at both national and county levels.
Context and controversy
The UP’s announcement comes after the opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) held a similar groundbreaking ceremony for its headquarters on October 18, 2025.
This timing has led some to see the Unity Party’s action as a response to the CDC’s demonstration of resilience after its previous headquarters was demolished. Critics have also raised concerns about the appointment of senior government officials to the UP’s fundraising committees, calling it a merger of political and state interests. Additionally, a former CDC lawmaker has accused the UP of using public funds for the project, an allegation the party has not publicly addressed.
