Activist Martin K. N. Kollie descends on Mo Ali, Patrick Honnah, and others for showing an opulent lifestyle while Liberians suffer on a daily basis.

Reacting to a viral video in which Mo Ali, Cornelia Kruah, Patrick Honnah and others were seem swaming in pool while going live and happily taking selfie, he said “I have no problem with people going to a pool 🏊. But public service is a whole different space. It’s not intended for self-comfort, satisfaction, and lavish living (opulence), especially when most people you serve cannot even afford a meal per day or a pool recreation a whole year. This cannot be happening when the country is in crisis.This is not what “Rescue” means. Far from it. People are afraid to say this. But I will say it.”

Activist Kollie expressed that showcasing a video or image on social media, particularly in the context of being responsible for managing public assets and finances in a nation that ranks as the eighth poorest in the world, reveals a profound lack of awareness and empathy towards the challenges faced by the average Liberian. He emphasized that this behavior reflects a troubling indifference to the severe hardships endured by countless individuals, including many unemployed rescue workers, who find themselves forsaken and grappling daily to secure their basic needs and financial stability.

He underscored the importance of recognizing the struggles of those who are marginalized and highlighted that such public displays by those in power can exacerbate feelings of neglect among the population. He urged for greater accountability and sensitivity from leaders, as their actions can significantly impact the morale and wellbeing of citizens already facing dire economic conditions. The contrast between the privileged positions of these individuals and the harsh realities of the everyday lives of ordinary people illustrates a disconnect that must be addressed.

“I did not support President Joseph Boakai because of this. Let’s focus on improving people’s lives and getting as many Liberians as possible out of poverty and misery. Truth be told, the country is extremely tough/hard. It’s getting tougher. Senior public officials cannot be flaunting like this on social media while most of the people they serve suffer. This is wrong,”he emphasized.

Activist stated in his write-up that he has a personal relationship with Mo Ali and Patrick Honnah, but he is calling their behavior of swimming and going live as opulence because the people’s lives, welfare, and interests matter, too. This is not “Rescue.”

“We criticized the CDC for this. Let’s not do it. It’s wrong. We promised to get our people out of poverty. Let’s invest the money in them. It’s their money. I have no problem if private citizens do this,” he concluded in his write-up.