Monrovia — President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has defended his longstanding decision to retain the late Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Sylvester M. Grigsby, despite public criticism, describing the fallen statesman as a man of unmatched integrity, discipline, and competence—qualities he said many detractors never understood.
By J.H. Webster Clayeh (0886729972) – [email protected]
The President spoke on Sunday at a Legacy Service honoring Grigsby’s life and contributions. The ceremony, organized by the Joseph Nyuma Boakai Foundation, was held at the S.T. Nagbe United Methodist Church in Monrovia.
The event drew several high-profile attendees, including former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Dr. Togba-Nah Tipoteh, Amb. Dew Mason, the widow Cleopatra Sangay Dudley Grigsby, along with senior officials, diplomats, family, and friends.
“People Did Not Know His Worth” – President Boakai
Addressing the congregation, President Boakai condemned individuals he described as “misinformed voices” who persistently demanded Grigsby’s removal.
“Our society has gone so bad that the mediocre are the ones people cherish,” he said. “Sometimes we look for substance, not just people. Many don’t know why we hold onto certain individuals.”
He added:
“It is no surprise that people shout, ‘Get rid of this person,’ without knowing who they are or what they bring. You might be looking for friendship, but I look for friendship and quality.”
A Relationship Built on Trust and Service
President Boakai revealed that after losing the 2017 elections to former President George Weah, he established the Joseph Nyuma Boakai Foundation and immediately reached out to Grigsby—despite the foundation having no financial resources at the time.
“When Sylvester came to the foundation, we didn’t have money. I was not paying him,” he recalled. “But he stayed. He was disciplined, brilliant, humble—almost like a brother to me.”
Boakai said Grigsby maintained the same dedication after becoming Minister of State.
“He stayed at work late into the night. Many people who could not reach me went straight to Sylvester’s office,” he noted.
Liberia’s Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Samuel A. Stevquoah, described Amb. Sylvester Grigsby not only as his boss but also as a mentor and true patriot. Stevquoah, who served alongside Grigsby at the Ministry of State before being appointed to the post following Grigsby’s passing, said the late statesman’s guidance and mentorship continue to inspire him and the staff.
He extended heartfelt appreciation to the Grigsby family for allowing their loved one to serve his country and its people with such devotion.
Amb. Dew Mason: “His Accusers Lied”
Also speaking at the service, Ambassador Dew Mason denounced the allegations previously made against the late Minister, calling them “outlandish” and fueled by envy.
“Greg was a victim of lies from people who were no equals to him in character or intelligence,” Mason said. “Greatness exposes the inadequacy of small men and women. But history is already eroding those lies.”
A Life Defined by Discipline, Integrity, and Service
Sylvester M. Grigsby, 74, died on August 9, 2025 in Houston, Texas after a prolonged illness. His family remembered him as a man of “gentle strength, immense generosity, unwavering integrity, and deep devotion to Liberia.”
Born on October 15, 1950, in Sinoe County to Nyanabo and Numah Mondubue, he was later adopted by Harrison Grigsby Sr. and Diana Sylvia Grigsby (“Mama and Papa Heart”), whose upbringing shaped his values: discipline, faith, loyalty, and a lifelong commitment to public service.
He leaves behind a grieving family—and a nation that is “better for the love he shared so freely.”
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