“IMF, World Bank Will Never Develop Liberia; We Must Do It Ourselves” | News

In a bold and impassioned address before his colleagues, Sinoe County Senator Crayton O. Duncan issued a blistering critique of the country’s overreliance on foreign assistance and donor-driven development, urging national leaders to take full ownership of Liberia’s future and natural resources.

Senator Duncan called on his colleagues to awaken to the reality that external partners, including the IMF and the World Bank, will never be the drivers of Liberia’s development and economic independence.

“We should stop relying on people to develop this country for us,” Duncan warned. “They will never do it. It will take years. The future of our country is about self-initiative.”

Drawing on historical references, the Senator recalled how former President Samuel K. Doe publicly raised questions about the cost of building the coastal highway, only to highlight the absurdity of waiting for the ‘right time’ amid inflation.

“The World Bank told President Samuel Doe it was too expensive. Then he asked: when will it be cheaper? When everyday prices are going up?” Duncan asked rhetorically.

He also invoked the legacy of former Central Bank Governor Dr. J. Mills Jones, praising him for defying the IMF’s position against completing the Central Bank building during Duncan’s time as Chief of Staff.

“They told Dr. Jones directly in that meeting with the IMF that it was not possible,” Duncan said. “But Dr. Jones defied them, and today we are proud of the Central Bank of Liberia.”

Senator Duncan did not mince words in criticizing the country’s management of its natural resources. He lambasted the government’s weak stance on concessions, citing Liberia’s gold, diamonds, and forests as being exploited without sustainable benefits.

“We need to revisit the concessions. We need to put our feet down,” he stressed. “We cut trees that took 20, 25 years to grow in one day—no replanting, no care. They strip and ship them out. Cheap!”

He questioned why Liberia’s currency has devalued so drastically despite the country’s vast mineral wealth.

“Our Liberian dollar now has reached over $200 to $1. But we have the resources to back our currency. Yet all we want is a little tax from companies just to pay government workers—who are less than 15% of the population.”

Duncan argued that Liberia’s economic system is built around salary payments, rather than development and innovation.

“Everybody is happy once salaries are paid. So no development comes,” he declared. “We are accustomed to waiting for payday—but our people are hungry for roads, jobs, and opportunities.”

He also criticized the establishment of numerous national parks and conservation areas that displace locals without compensation.

“Go to those national parks—people are still living in tent houses, no compensation. They now have to walk hours just to make a farm. What kind of conservation is that?”

The Sinoe Senator offered a controversial but pointed take on the global power structure, suggesting that Western institutions deliberately dominate African policy through psychological and ideological control.

“There are two ideologies in the world today,” Duncan argued. “The West uses seminars and education to control our minds. They want to dictate how we think, how we behave.”

He claimed that global powers would never allow Liberia to become food self-sufficient, particularly as the country currently imports over US$200 million worth of staple food annually.

“You think they will allow you to take that US$200 million from them? That’s why I laugh when you say you want to bring about agricultural self-sufficiency.

In a moment of political candor, Duncan reflected on the leadership choices made by Liberians, referencing former President George Weah and current President Joseph Boakai.

“Most Liberians would pick George [Weah] over Boakai because of youth and background. But they gave up on Weah because he didn’t do what he was supposed to do,” Duncan noted. “Now Boakai is there—still, it’s the same normal thing. Just pay the salary, and everyone relaxes.”

Senator Duncan pointed to massive discrepancies between national wealth and government income, citing recent gold export figures.

“Bea Mountain and Luba exported over US$1 billion worth of gold last year,” he revealed. “Yet our national budget is less than US$700 million. What does that tell you?”

Concluding his address with a forceful appeal, Senator Duncan called on the Senate and the nation to stop giving away national wealth under the guise of best practices and re-examine all concession agreements.

“It is extremely important for us to take our resources back into our hands. We ought to re-examine the so-called concessional gold international best practices,” he declared. “Mr. President of the Senate, I rest.”

Senator Duncan did not, with this impassioned speech, submit draft legislation to right the wrongs he decried.

He holds leadership roles in key Senate committees, including the Chairmanship of the Autonomous Commissions and Agencies Committee, and the Vice Chairmanship of Ways, Means, Finance and Budget. He is also a Member of the Internal Affairs and Governance, Banking and Currency  Public Accounts and Audits, and Public Corporations Committees. 

His website shows no list of bills that he has authored or sponsored.

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