Liberia: Boakai Pushes Back Against Sirleaf’s ‘Filthy Monrovia’ Remarks

Monrovia — President Joseph Boakai has sharply disagreed with former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf over her description of the capital city as “filthy,” insisting that sanitation conditions in Monrovia have improved compared to previous years.

By J.H. Webster Clayeh | [email protected]

Speaking on the Truth Breakfast Show on Truth FM on Thursday, April 30, Sirleaf criticized the state of the city, describing it as dirty and reflective of broader governance challenges.

“This city is filthy,” Sirleaf said. “I drive through it from time to time and I’m ashamed.”

The former Liberian leader warned that poor sanitation continues to damage Liberia’s international image and could discourage potential international partners and investors.

“When they drive through our cities, they leave from here and say so much terrible things about the country,” she noted.

Sirleaf further argued that addressing sanitation challenges could create opportunities for young people through organized community cleanup initiatives. She urged authorities to focus on practical interventions rather than projects she considers less impactful, including the proliferation of billboards across the city.

Responding during the fourth Cabinet Retreat of 2026, President Joseph Boakai acknowledged that Monrovia may not compare favorably with some foreign capitals, but maintained that the city is cleaner today than it was in the past.

“Monrovia may be dirty compared to other cities, but we think it is cleaner than it used to be,” President Boakai said.

The President’s remarks come amid growing public debate over sanitation and urban management in the Liberian capital.

Several government officials have since defended the administration’s handling of sanitation issues, arguing that Sirleaf’s assessment was unfair and failed to recognize improvements made in recent years.