Monrovia - The Liberian government headed by Africa's first
female elected head of state marked one year in office in ceremonies
Tuesday.
Among the changes found within the space of the year, are the
supplying of electricity and water to a large part of the capital
Monrovia, which had been described as the largest village in Africa.
Investor confidence has increased as is demonstrated by
construction work around the capital, Monrovia, while pot-holed
streets and burst culverts have been repaired. Through the support of
the World Bank, roads across the country are being reconditioned.
In additional, civil servants' salaries are now paid in a timely
fashion after being between 14 to 18 months in arrears only a year
ago.
The government also has declared free education in government-run
elementary schools resulting in a dramatic rise in the school
attendance.
'When a female was first elected, I thought this country had gone
to the dogs, but the contrary is the case,' observed tribal chief
Fayia Musa.
Opposition politician Thomas Borwah however claimed that 'despite
the huge international support this government is getting, it has yet
to improve the living conditions of most Liberians.'
'Most Liberians still remain unemployed. This has led to an
upsurge in the crime rate in recent times,' he said.
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf promised to institute radical
changes in the coming years.
'If we make hard decisions, we know that they will sometimes meet
with criticisms, but we are not afraid and there will be no turning
back because we do so in the interest of the people,' Ellen said at a
rally in Monrovia.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur 
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