MONROVIA — President Joseph Boakai has spotlighted the leadership of the National Port Authority (NPA), praising Managing Director Sekou A.M. Dukuly for what the administration described as a year of reforms and measurable national impact within the maritime sector.

By Selma Lomax, selma.lomax@frontpageafricaonlie.com 

The acknowledgment followed a comprehensive government performance review which assessed public institutions on efficiency, delivery, and strategic execution.

During the official program held in Monrovia, the President emphasized that the port sector has become a critical driver of economic recovery, noting that the progress recorded at the NPA reflects a shift toward results oriented governance and institutional discipline across Liberia’s public service landscape.

Unlike previous years marked by operational stagnation, the period under review revealed a decisive turnaround led by Dukuly, whose administration pursued aggressive reforms under the RESET framework.

The Authority expanded port access by restoring round the clock navigation, introduced modern marine equipment to strengthen vessel handling, and initiated long delayed infrastructure upgrades across key ports including Buchanan and Greenville.

Governance systems were tightened through new safety and compliance mechanisms, while Liberia re engaged regional and international maritime partners through high level cooperation platforms.

The Authority also pushed forward human capacity development, producing locally trained maritime professionals and reducing reliance on foreign expertise. In the commercial space, renegotiated agreements improved revenue outcomes for government and introduced stronger accountability standards, signaling a shift toward protecting national interests within port operations.

Speaking to FrontPage Africa after receiving the recognition, Dukuly said the moment represents a significant milestone in Liberia’s ongoing institutional reform agenda.

He explained that the honor reflects the determination of the Authority to break away from past inefficiencies and establish a system that delivers consistent and measurable outcomes for the country.

He stated that every reform implemented during the year was guided by a clear objective to reposition the port system as a reliable engine of trade and economic growth, adding that the results achieved demonstrate what is possible when leadership is aligned with national priorities and supported by a committed workforce.

Dukuly further noted that the recognition carries a deeper meaning beyond institutional achievement, as it reinforces public confidence in the ability of government entities to transform and deliver. He pointed out that the maritime sector holds strategic importance for Liberia’s future, and that sustained investment in systems, people, and infrastructure will be necessary to maintain the gains already recorded. He acknowledged that challenges remain, but insisted that the progress made provides a strong foundation for continued advancement and long term stability within the port sector.

“This recognition affirms that the direction we have taken is the right one, and it strengthens our commitment to continue implementing reforms that improve efficiency, enhance transparency, and expand the contribution of the port sector to national development,” Dukuly stated.

“What we have achieved over the past year is only the beginning of a larger transformation, and we remain focused on building a modern port system that meets international standards, supports trade expansion, and delivers tangible benefits to the Liberian people,” he added.

Joseph Boakai, Liberia’s President, offered a special prayer for the nation at a national service Wednesday at the Effort Baptist Church in Paynesville, where Boakai also serves as a deacon. As Liberians with formal employment took advantage of a surprise last minute public holiday, the president offered a special prayer for the nation against corruption, untimely deaths, a drug epidemic sweeping Liberia’s youth, and for reconciliation and unity.

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with New Narratives

The national holiday, declared during Boakai’s July 26^th Independence Day address, came three weeks after the president took the significant step of officially apologizing to victims of the country’s civil wars, which killed an estimated 250,000 people, displaced millions and devastated its infrastructure.

“Prayer got us this far,” said Boakai. “Prayers have worked their work, and they continue to work. And so today, we felt that with all that has happened, that we say thanks to God for the light that is bringing the country. We thank him for having mercy upon us, trying to open the gateway for blessings in this country.”

The president was criticized over the timing of his decision to declare the day a national holiday amid the country’s worsening economic crisis, but he defended his decision, stressing the significance of the event. There were noticeably empty pews in the in the church during the service which was attended by some members of the clergy and senior government officials and ordinary citizens.

Boakai has been praised by transitional justice experts for extensive his reconciliation and accountability efforts, including support for establishing a war and economics crimes court. But they have also expressed concern about the lack of funding the government has given to the Office for War and Economic Crimes Court, which he set up to oversee the country’s justice and accountability process. Jallah Barbu, executive director of the Office, has repeatedly complained about the lack of funds to operate. $US2 million promised for the Office by the president in May has yet to be disbursed.

A day before the National Prayer Service, victims and survivors of the St. Peter’s Lutheran Church massacre—one of the bloodiest atrocities in Liberia’s war history— held a memorial service to mark the 35^th anniversary of the brutal killings.

They gave testimonies about the murder of their families, and loved ones, including men, women and babies. Soldiers from the Liberian army and the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit, the elite presidential guard loyal to Samuel Doe, Liberian president at the time, were accused of the killings. The church was used as a Red Cross shelter for thousands of civilians who fled fighting between soldiers from the National Patriotic Front of Liberia, loyal to Charles Taylor, a rebel leader at the time and the Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia of Prince Johnson. Taylor became president of Liberia before being convicted of war related crimes in Sierra Leone. He is now serving a 50-year sentence in a United Kingdom prison. Johnson died last year after serving nearly two decades as the powerful senator for Nimba county. Troops from Anti-Terrorist Unit and the Liberian army were accused of committing the mass killings because they claimed the civilians, mainly of the Mano and Gio ethnic groups, supported Taylor and his troops.

In his Independence Day speech on July 26, Boakai pledged to commission a national war memorial for victims of the wars and regional peacekeepers who were killed in the conflict. No venue has yet been named, but at the victims’ memorial service, G. Victor Padmore, bishop of the Lutheran Church of Liberia, said it was important for church’s compound to be “preserved as a national memorial for victims of the massacre so that generations can learn from our history.”

In Liberia, no one has been held to account for the killings, though in 2022, a U.S. district court found Moses Thomas, a former commander of the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit, civilly liable and ordered  him to pay $US84 million to victims of the massacre. Moses Wright, the alleged commander of the army that oversaw the killings, and one of the most high-ranking military figures at the time, will go on trial in October in the U.S. for perjury and criminal immigration fraud charges. U.S. prosecutors said he lied about ordering his troops to commit human rights violations.

In October, the Ecowas Community Court of Justice dashed the hopes of Lutheran Church massacre victims when it said it did not have jurisdiction to hear a case brought against the Liberian government by four of the survivors because it said the case predated its establishment. The victims and survivors insisted they were still awaiting justice.

“Let us agree, unequivocally, that reconciliation without justice is not healing,” said Marcus P. Quoigoah, executive director, Lutheran Church Massacre Survivors Association. “It is delay. And memorialization without truth is not remembrance. It is reinvention. Let the echoes of the past compel us to build a nation where the dignity of every individual is honored, and the promise of peace is secured by the unwavering pursuit of truth and justice.”

The memorial service was attended by key members of the international community, including Karl Backéus, Sweden’s Ambassador to Liberia, and Marie Paule Neuville, program officer for European Union misson. Neuville said the international community supported the victims.

“We stand with you in grief,” said Neuville. “And we stand with you and the call for a future with the truth, justice, peace, and reconciliation.”

Backéus commended the Liberian government for its transitional justice steps so far.

“I am very happy to note very positive steps taken on reconciliation, justice and accountability,” said Backéus. “Reconciliation, of course, will be crucial in Liberia. Reconciliation can never happen without justice and accountability.”

Sweden remains the only bilateral donor to have made a significant cash contribution to support Liberia’s transitional justice process so far – in the form of a grant to the UN Office for Human Rights – amid dwindling international support. Mark Toner, the retiring U.S. ambassador to Liberia, disclosed in an exclusive interview FrontPage Africa/New Narratives this month that there would be no immediate U.S. cash funding for Liberia’s war and economic crimes court and national anti-corruption court. Backéus said they remained committed to helping Liberia achieve justice, reconciliation and accountability.

“As chair of Liberia Configuration on the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission, we are also leading the Commission’s work and international community to ensure that Liberia’s accountability process stays on top of the mind of the international community,” said Backéus.

During the memorial service, Quoigoah urged government and international partners to provide reparations to victims and survivors of the massacre in the form of medical support. Reparations were one of the 207 recommendations of the country’s 2009 Truth and Reconciliation Commission report.

“These are not mere requests; they are fundamental human rights for those struggling to keep afloat while awaiting prosecution for alleged perpetrators,” said Quoigoah. “Our wounds cannot heal without help. Our lives cannot flourish without means. We are not asking for charity; we are asking for dignity.”

This story is a collaboration with New Narratives as part of the West Africa Justice Reporting Project. Funding was provided by the Swedish Embassy in Liberia which had no say in the story’s content.

MONROVIA – Liberia, with a rocky history of two bloody civil wars fueled by political and tribal divides, is now enjoying the dividends of peace. However, one major agenda its post war leaders have tried to accomplished but failed is reconciliation. 

By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, gerald.koinyeneh@frontpageafricaonline.com

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, with Joseph Boakai serving as her Vice President trumpeted reconciliation as one of her major domestic programs when she inherited a country reeling from the brutal civil wars. Her appointment of her fiercest political rival, opposition leader George Weah as Liberia’s peace ambassador was not enough to help her achieve her goal. Sirleaf would later admit that in her last annual message in 2017.

“Let me say, straight out, two areas have continued to pose major challenges for our administration: corruption and reconciliation,” she said. “Our country’s long struggle for national reconciliation has its genesis in history. A coup d’état and years of civil conflict exacerbated longstanding divides that have left deep wounds. The methods and motivations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission have not helped us to find a way forward to achieve the desired results for reconciliation. Nevertheless, we must continue implementation of the 207 recommendations in the Report, the majority of which have already been implemented.”

President George Weah, who succeeded her, opted not to support the TRC’s recommendation to establish a tribunal to try those responsible for the worst atrocities committed during the war, in the name of reconciliation. His decision drew criticism, with many accusing him of shielding alleged war criminals for political gain.

President Boakai has made reconciliation, a major domestic policy. Already he has collaborated with families of the late Samuel Kanyon Doe and William R. Tolbert to give them symbolic reburial in Grand Gedeh and Montserrado, respectively.

He has also convened a national reconciliation program. Other notable national events include the official celebration of Liberia’s 178^th Independence anniversary and a national prayer service at the Effort Baptist Church after he declared Wednesday, July 30, a National Prayer Day.

However, the absence of key opposition figures at these major national events has sparked public concern and renewed scrutiny of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s reconciliation drive, with critics questioning the sincerity and inclusivity of his government’s efforts to unite the country.

On President Boakai’s declared National Prayer Day, Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe of Bomi County delivered a stirring prayer that doubled as a pointed appeal to the President.

“Father, we lift up our President, H.E. Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., into Your Arms. May You strengthen him daily, lead him in wisdom, and give him a heart of a true Father to this Nation. We ask especially that You give him the grace to forgive, and to act on that forgiveness—not just in words, but in deeds,” Snowe prayed.

The senator’s remarks struck a nerve with observers, particularly as he emphasized the need for President Boakai to reach across the political divide and foster genuine unity.

“We pray that he will take the bold step to work with the former Presidents, Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and George Manneh Weah, Madam Jewel Howard-Taylor, Speaker Fonati Koffa, as well as political leaders like Mr. Alexander B. Cummings, Mr. Benoni Urey, and others who have served and continue to care deeply about the destiny of Liberia.”

Joining the chorus of concern, the National Patriotic Party’s Chairman, Atty. George Sylvester Mulbah, criticized the Boakai administration for what he termed a “lack of a holistic reconciliation process.” He pointed out that major opposition figures continue to be excluded from national gatherings.

Atty. Mulbah said such exclusion undermines Liberia’s democratic and reconciliation processes.

He called for a deliberate effort to include opposition leaders such as former President George Weah, Alexander Cummings, and Benoni Urey in the national dialogue, citing their continued relevance to peacebuilding and national development.

While top Boakai officials say invitations were accorded to these political leaders, their absence has fueled speculation that national reconciliation is not proceeding in earnest. Some argue that the Boakai administration has yet to move beyond symbolic gestures and take meaningful steps toward bridging the deep political and social divisions that have long plagued Liberia.

Critics contend that reconciliation must involve inclusion, recognition, and respect for all former leaders and political actors, regardless of past affiliations or disagreements. They warn that failure to do so risks undermining public confidence in the President’s stated commitment to unity and peace.

As Liberia continues to recover from its political and economic struggles, the call for President Boakai to “act not just in words, but in deeds” echoes as both a spiritual appeal and a political imperative.

President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has launched the Excellence in Learning in Liberia (EXCEL) Project—a national program aimed at improving literacy and numeracy outcomes for children in early childhood and primary school.

By Jaheim T. Tumu-jaheim.tumu@frontpageafricaonline.com

The $88.7 million initiative, the largest foundational education investment in Liberia’s history, is funded through a $60 million concessional credit from the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank and a $28.7 million grant from the Global Partnership for Education (GPE).

Delivering his remarks, President Boakai said that the initiative is not just a project but it is a declaration of our commitment to the children of Liberia.”

 Said President Boakai, “EXCEL is a key pillar in our ARREST Agenda and a direct response to the urgent need for equitable, high-quality education for every Liberian child—especially in our public schools.”

The EXCEL Project is expected to benefit over 362,000 students, teachers, and education staff in 2,337 public early childhood and primary schools across all 15 counties of Liberia. The program would provide 350,000 students from the final year of early childhood education through Grade 6 with new and improved learning materials in literacy and numeracy.

Twelve thousand (12,000) teachers and principals will undergo training in foundational learning, mentoring, instructional leadership, and school management, with 14,000 school management committee (SMC) members and Ministry of Education staff will benefit from capacity-building programs. Notably, 48% of all direct beneficiaries are expected to be female, signaling a strong commitment to gender equity in education.

Despite the massive support from global partners, one critical step remains before full rollout: ratification of the $60 million IDA credit by the National Legislature.

“The time to act is now,” President Boakai urged lawmakers. “This is a national effort that touches every county, every classroom, and every child. Let us act with urgency to secure this investment for the future of our nation.”

Also speaking, Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustin Ngafuan described EXCEL as “a gift to the next generation” and a shining example of what leadership, vision, and partnership can accomplish.

“President Boakai is pushing, and the whole government is moving,” Ngafuan declared. “As he pushes us, I push my deputies and assistants. And across government, we’re being pushed to act—not just talk.”

Ngafuan highlighted education as a top priority under the ARREST development agenda, second only to infrastructure.

“We’ve set an ambitious target of $2.6 billion for human capacity development under ARREST. And yes—we must be ambitious.”

He also recounted the “tough negotiations” in Washington, D.C. that led to the securing of the GPE grant.

“This didn’t fall from the sky,” Ngafuan emphasized. “It came from hard work, strategic discussions, and a shared belief in Liberia’s future.”

Representing the World Bank, Country Manager Madam Georgia Wallen praised the EXCEL Project as “historic in ambition, scale, and urgency.”

“This is the largest education investment the World Bank has ever made in Liberia,” she noted. “It reaches every public early childhood and primary school and lays the foundation for real transformation in literacy, numeracy, inclusion, and school leadership.”

Wallen emphasized that EXCEL is directly aligned with the ARREST Agenda, Liberia’s Vision 2030, and the World Bank’s new Country Partnership Framework, which puts human capital at the heart of national development.

“Liberia’s children deserve more and better,” she said. “EXCEL is a down payment on the kind of transformation that unlocks opportunity and restores dignity.”

Minister of Education,  Jarso Jallah described the EXCEL Project as a “game-changing intervention” aimed at fixing Liberia’s learning crisis at the root.

“EXCEL allows us to tackle the real problems—by investing in classrooms, in teachers, and in communities,” she explained. “It strengthens the very foundation on which our education system is built—early childhood and primary education.”

She outlined the project’s focus on practical, high-impact solutions:

“This is not just about big numbers. It’s about delivering real results, real skills, and real confidence to our students and educators.”

MONROVIA – African Development Bank (AfDB) President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina has urged Liberia to take bold and decisive steps in managing its vast natural resources, holding public officials accountable, and investing in its youth as a path to sustainable development.

By Jaheim T. Tumu, Jaheim.tumu@frontpageafricaonline.com

Speaking during a high-level visit to Monrovia for the official launch of the Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank (YEIB), the first of its kind in Africa, Dr. Adesina said Liberia’s future depends on how well it handles what it already possesses.

He told President Joseph Boakai and his audience that Liberia has no business being poor, considering its wealth of minerals, forests, fertile agricultural land, and biodiversity.

He emphasized that these riches, if well-managed, could unlock national prosperity, and he challenged Liberia’s leadership to break from past practices that have kept the country stagnant.

The YEIB, launched with an initial investment of US$17 million is expected to support over 30,000 youth-led businesses, unlock over US$500 million in lending, and create new job opportunities for Liberians between the ages of 18 and 35.

The initiative aims to stimulate a new wave of youth-driven enterprise development by funding startups, providing mentorship, and driving innovation in sectors such as agriculture and digital technology.

President Boakai described the YEIB as a program that speaks directly to the heart of Liberia’s future, citing the demographic reality that more than 60 percent of Liberia’s population is under the age of 35. He said the bank would help shift young people from job seekers to job creators.

Dr. Adesina also made a strong appeal for Liberia to end its reliance on the export of raw materials, describing the practice as the door to poverty. He stressed that the country should instead build value chains to process its own raw materials and produce finished goods for export.

According to him, this shift would create jobs, boost local industries, and retain wealth within the country. He urged the Boakai administration to invest in infrastructure and technical skills that would support local value addition, pointing out that the export of value-added products is the highway to wealth.

In one of the most candid speeches directed at a Liberian President in recent years, Adesina called for swift action against underperformance in government. He applauded President Boakai for instituting performance evaluations for public officials but warned that good policies would mean little without strict implementation.

He advised the President not to merely blow the whistle when things go wrong but to take corrective action. He said Boakai must use his time in office wisely and avoid babysitting non-performing officials. Instead, he should reward those who perform, remove those who do not, and be prepared to change players and game plans when necessary.

Adesina emphasized that the Liberian people are looking for results, not promises or intentions.

Reflecting on his own experience as President of the AfDB for the past ten years, Adesina shared seven core leadership lessons with the Liberian government. He began by highlighting the need for a clear and compelling national vision. He recounted that when he assumed leadership at the AfDB, he introduced the Bank’s “High 5s” as a framework to guide development across the continent.

He noted that each Vice President at the Bank was made accountable for one of the High 5s and signed performance contracts that were tracked and reviewed annually. He encouraged Boakai to implement a similar structure in government, holding ministries and agencies accountable for delivering on the six pillars of the ARREST agenda, which includes Agriculture, Roads, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation, and Tourism. Adesina stressed that measurable performance must be monitored, rewarded, and enforced to make the agenda effective.

As a former Minister of Agriculture in Nigeria, Adesina reminded Liberian ministers and agency heads that they are not the President but are appointed to help the President succeed. He said he once told his own President that if he failed to deliver results, he should be fired.

That level of accountability, he added, led to his ministry producing 21 million tons of food and exceeding national targets. He urged Liberian officials to set high goals and aim for big results rather than settling for mediocrity. Adesina also encouraged unity within the government and discouraged inter-agency rivalry, proposing what he called the Baobab Principle.

Just as it takes many hands to circle a Baobab tree, he said national development requires the collective effort of all arms of government. He explained how the AfDB adopted a “One Bank” model to ensure alignment across departments and called on Liberia to consider launching an Inter-Agency Presidential Performance Award to recognize collaborative progress.

Adesina praised the Boakai administration for its commitment to restoring integrity in the civil service and reforming the judiciary, but he cautioned that these institutions must embrace a culture of results and efficiency.

He said a civil service that fails to perform delays national development and that an independent, effective judiciary is essential to building public trust and attracting investment. As his second and final term at the AfDB comes to a close, Adesina expressed admiration for Liberia’s resilience and pride in its people.

He closed his message with an emotional appeal to national identity and unity, urging Liberians to remember their shared strength, resilience, and hope. He invited the audience to repeat after him, “I am Liberian,” drawing cheers and applause from the crowd.

Responding to Dr. Adesina’s remarks, President Boakai expressed gratitude and admiration for the AfDB leader, calling him a trusted partner and a champion for Africa’s development.

President Boakai said Dr. Adesina’s tenure at the AfDB had transformed the Bank into a dynamic and effective institution, noting that its capital more than doubled moved from US$93 billion to over USD$ 318 billion in just the last ten years.

The President highlighted the AfDB’s ongoing US$319 million portfolio in Liberia, which supports 18 active projects across transport, agriculture, energy, finance, and other sectors. He said these projects are not just statistics but real investments that connect communities, light homes and businesses, improve food security, and restore faith in government.

President Boakai also emphasized the importance of continued partnership with the AfDB in the years ahead, especially with major projects such as the Liberty Corridor, which aims to connect Liberia with neighboring Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Mali.

He said the project has the potential to position Liberia as a trade gateway for its landlocked neighbors and to promote regional integration and shared prosperity.

President Boakai welcomed the Bank’s push for domestic resource mobilization and said it could become a game-changer for Liberia and other countries across the continent.

The President also reflected on the long-standing relationship between Liberia and Dr. Adesina, saying the AfDB president’s legacy in Liberia is deep and lasting.

He commended the impact of programs launched under his leadership and said they would continue to benefit Liberians for generations to come.

• Leading Liberian Rights Groups have praised reburials of Samuel Doe and William Tolbert, two ex-Liberian presidents, but have urged an inclusive reconciliation and healing process and support for Office of War and Economic Crimes Court of Liberia
• The organizations, including the Liberia Massacre Survivors Association, Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia and Transitional Justice Working Group, say criminal accountability for past crimes “offers the promise of closure, addresses the collective trauma”
• The government has announced a national “heading, reconciliation and unity” program for those killed during the civil wars, Ebola and COVID pandemic

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with New Narratives

Leading Liberian human rights organizations have praised the government for symbolically reburying Samuel Kanyon Doe and William Richard Tolbert, the country’s two presidents who were separately killed while in office. Doe, who ended more than a century of Americo-Liberian dominance by a military coup in 1980 was buried last week in his native Tuzon, Grand Gedeh County following a state funeral. Doe himself was killed in a military coup that escalated Liberia’s first civil war 9 years later. Charles Taylor’s National Patriotic Front forces’ invasion in 1989 started the war. Tolbert, who was killed during the Doe-led coup, was also reburied this week, alongside 13 officials of his government, who were shot to death by a firing squad after a kangaroo court adjudged them guilty of a range of crimes, including corruption and treason.

The reburials of the ex-presidents were part of broader recommendations in the 2009 report of Liberia’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The Joseph Boakai-led government is the first in Liberia’s post-war era, to undertake such an initiative, which the government says is part of a national healing and reconciliation process. The human rights organizations, including the Liberia Massacre Survivors Association, Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia and Transitional Justice Working Group, say while the move is commendable, it’s short of the overall push for healing and reconciliation of all victims of the country’s two civil wars, which killed about 250,000 people and displaced millions.

“For reconciliation to be meaningful, it must transcend political symbolism and include the stories, pain, and demands of ordinary citizens suffered as a result of the back-to-back violence during Liberia’s conflict era,” said rights groups said in a statement issued by the Civil Society Human Rights Advocacy Platform of Liberia, their umbrella organization. “Reconciliation cannot be exclusive to political elites—especially those who have long contributed to Liberia’s suffering. If former leaders are welcomed home as symbols of peace, then the families of victims and survivors of atrocities and communities must also be acknowledged and included. These citizens were buried in mass graves, and to this day, their families have received no justice, no recognition, and no reparations, including those due to the aftermath of the 1980 coup.”

In addition to recommending the reburials of Doe and Tolbert, the TRC also recommended “that there be a specific date declared for proper reburial of all victims of massacres” and that “certificates of death adorned in the National Colors, be issued to the surviving heirs of all those who lost their lives during the period 1979 to 2003 as a consequence of the national conflict and who to date remain unaccounted for, are without a grave or other legal evidence of death.”

Responding to an inquiry about the issue at a government news conference  Thursday, Jarso Maley Jallah, Liberia’s education minister, who also chairs a special presidential reburial committee, said it was a decision for the president to make.

“In his wisdom and from where he sits, he can have a state funeral for whomsoever he chooses,” said Jallah. “But the constituting of this committee, the reburial committee, was to give dignified burials to former presidents. For those who lost their lives as I stated earlier, it was a tragedy. They are also captured in this planning process. Is there going to be a specific name to say, ‘those who died during the rice riot?’ It has not been planned, but it doesn’t mean that it cannot be inclusive of the names of those individuals, if we have and we dig back in history and get those names, that they will not be inscribed.”

The government said it will follow up the reburials by holding a ceremony this Saturday of “national healing, reconciliation, and unity program” to honor “victims of civil wars, Ebola, and COVID-19.” 

“These ceremonies have rekindled the call for accountability for wartime atrocities. Although there have been prosecutions, convictions, and sentencing of individuals in Europe and the U.S. for crimes related to Liberia’s civil wars, no one has been directly held to account within Liberia for the egregious human rights violations committed during the conflicts, which officially ended nearly 22 years ago. President Boakai was applauded by advocates for a war and economic crimes court, as well as a special anti-corruption court, when he established an office to oversee the drafting of the courts’ statutes and a roadmap for their establishment, along with the country’s overall transitional justice process. He was again praised by courts advocates when in May he instructed that the Office, headed by Jallah Barbu, a Liberian lawyer, be given a $US2 million annual budget, a sixfold increase in annual budget. But Barbu has consistently complained about the lack of funds to operate. He recently said he and his staff of 30 have gone more than 5 months without pay. The issue has raised questions about the president’s commitment and sincerity to a process, experts say holds the key to Liberia’s long-term peace and stability.

The human rights organizations warned that “the crippling lack of funding to undertake” the operations of the Office “threatens to undermine this vital institution envisioned by the Boakai-led government for perpetrators of war and economic crimes to account for their actions.”

“The pursuit of justice against those responsible for heinous war and economic crimes is crucial,” said the rights groups. “It offers the promise of closure, addresses the collective trauma that has long haunted our nation, and paves the way for an authentic and open dialogue about our shared history.”

Kula Fofana, a lawyer and presidential press secretary, did not respond to a FrontPage Africa/New Narratives request for comment on the criticism of the human rights organizations about the lack of support to the Office. As with the push for criminal accountability, campaigns for reparations for victims and communities of the wars are at heart of advocates’ agenda. They believe that reparations are critical to any national healing process.

“CSO Human Rights Platform admonishes the government to seize this opportunity to build a brighter future for all Liberians, rooted in justice, reparations and reconciliation,” the statement said. As well as reparations, the TRC did also recommend “memorial sites be built in the capital cities of each county to include every state of massacres where the remains our people en masse have been buried from 1979 to 2002.” With support from the United Nations Development Program, the Independent National Commission on Human Rights, a creature of the TRC, has constructed “nine memorials at massacre and mass grave sites across the country.”

 At a UN meeting in August, Cllr. Oswald Tweh, Liberia’s justice minister, pledged the government’s commitment to establishing a reparation trust fund to support conflict victims” to “help victims rebuild their lives and communities, ensuring that they are not forgotten as we move forward.” But no of those promises have been fulfilled. Minister Tweh has responded to a request for comment on the latest concern by human rights advocates about the issue.

Jallah said although the issue of reparations “is not in the mandate of the committee,” she was “sure the next process may try to explore that inquiry.”

This story is a collaboration with New Narratives as part of the West Africa Justice Reporting Project. Funding was provided by the Swedish Embassy in Liberia which had no say in the story’s content.

MONROVIA – President Joseph Boakai has nominated Associate Justice Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay as Liberia’s next Chief Justice, following the statutory retirement of Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene Gyapay Yuoh, who turned 70 last week.

By Selma Lomax | selma.lomax@frontpageafricaonline.com

Under Article 72(b) of the 1986 Constitution, justices are required to retire at that age. The nomination, announced by the Executive Mansion on Monday, is now pending confirmation by the Liberian Senate.

In a statement, the Executive Mansion described Gbeisay as a “distinguished jurist” whose nomination reflects “continuity and integrity in Liberia’s highest court.” President Boakai praised the associate justice for his “exemplary integrity, profound legal acumen, and commitment to upholding the rule of law and the Constitution.” 

According to the President, Justice Gbeisay’s elevation is consistent with the administration’s goal to maintain stability and trust within the judicial system.

Justice Gbeisay brings a long and diverse career in law and public service. Born on May 3, 1959, in Ganta City, Nimba County, he graduated from high school in Sanniquellie in 1979. He went on to earn a “B” Certificate in Language Arts and Social Studies from the Kakata Rural Teacher’s Training Institute. 

He later obtained a Bachelor of Arts in History and Public Administration from the University of Liberia, followed by a law degree (LLB) from the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law in 1998. He became a member of the Supreme Court Bar in 2002.

Over the years, Justice Gbeisay served in several key public sector roles including Legal Counsel at the Ministry of Labor and the National Elections Commission, Director at the National Social Security and Welfare Corporation (NASSCORP), and Legal Consultant at the Ministry of Justice. In 2015, he was appointed as a relieving judge and ultimately rose to Associate Justice in October 2022.

Despite the accolades from the presidency, Justice Gbeisay’s nomination has drawn sharp criticism from some legal experts and political observers who fear the Executive may be seeking to tighten its grip over the judiciary.

A veteran Liberian lawyer told FrontPageAfrica that the frequency of Supreme Court nominations — three appointments in under two years — is cause for concern. “These appointments are meant for the Executive to have control on the bench,” the lawyer argued. “Yarmie has experience as a Justice, but he’s not firm on decisions. His recent dissent in the Capitol Hill case is proof that his independence may be questionable.”

That case, decided on December 6, 2024, saw the Supreme Court rule that the actions of the Richard Koon-led bloc in the House of Representatives were unconstitutional. 

Justice Gbeisay was the lone dissenter when the now-resigned Speaker J. Fonati Koffa sought clarity via a Bill of Information. Critics of the nomination view this dissent not as evidence of independence, but as a strategic alignment with the Executive’s interests.

The same lawyer pointed to Justice Gbeisay’s Nimba roots as a potential political calculation: “His Nimba connection could make him more favorable to the current administration’s agenda.”

Meanwhile, multiple sources have confirmed that Grand Cape Mount Resident Judge Ousman Faika is expected to be nominated as Gbeisay’s replacement as Associate Justice. Faika, currently the Vice President of the National Trial Judges Association, is widely respected in legal circles for his sharp legal mind and balanced jurisprudence.

However, his expected appointment has also sparked conversation regarding the evolving composition of the Supreme Court. One legal analyst told FrontPageAfrica, “It’s a good sign for the judiciary that judges are being elevated from within, rather than pulling in outsiders. However, the moment such appointments become too politically aligned, those same strengths can become vulnerabilities.”

Should both nominations proceed, the current gender and regional balance on the Court will be significantly altered. The departure of Chief Justice Yuoh —one of three female justices — alongside Justices Jamesetta Howard-Wolokollie and Ceaineh D. Clinton Johnson, would mark a regression from a female-majority bench to a male-dominated one.

Moreover, the previous Southeast-heavy makeup, with justices from Maryland, Rivercess, and Grand Gedeh, will give way to a more diversified regional mix —bringing Nimba back into prominence at the helm of the judiciary.

The nomination has also stirred fierce debate on social media and among political circles. Randall Dobayou II, a ranking member of the opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), did not mince words. 

“The youngest and least experienced of all of the justices, but JNB took him because he was hired to give a dissenting opinion on the Koffa case. Is this too a rescue too? Wow,” Dobayou posted on Facebook, suggesting the nomination is a political reward rather than a merit-based decision.

In contrast, others have offered prayerful hope and encouragement. A Liberian citizen, Derrick Bedell, offered words of caution and spiritual support: “Your nomination by the President of Liberia does not mean that you should give in to his will, because you’re gonna be there for the Liberian people’s interest, not an individual. Please, please and please. May God Almighty lead you, direct you and give you wisdom to work in the interest of the people and the country in Jesus name.”

As the Senate prepares for confirmation hearings, Liberia finds itself at a crossroads. The outcome will determine whether President Boakai’s judicial reshaping strengthens the rule of law—or undermines it. While supporters argue that Justice Gbeisay has earned his place through years of dedicated service, skeptics question whether recent decisions and political context hint at a more calculated motive.

For now, the core question reverberating across political and legal circles is that whether Justice Gbeisay’s nomination is the product of judicial merit, or is it political payback wrapped in constitutional procedure?

Monrovia – President Joseph Boakai inherited a major agricultural initiative from the Weah administration—a US$26 million poultry project in Careysburg. During a visit to the project site in May, President Boakai and his team confirmed that the venture is public-private partnership (PPP) and aligned with the government’s ARREST agenda.

By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, gerald.koinyeneh@frontpageafricaonline.com 

Early in May, President Boakai led a delegation to Careysburg District in Rural Montserrado County to inspect progress on what the government has described as a US$26 million poultry project. Officials accompanying him included Minister of State for Presidential Affairs Sylvester Grigsby, Minister of State Without Portfolio Mamaka Bility, and Agriculture Minister Dr. Alexander Nuetah.

The President and his ministers toured the 50-acre site. Speaking briefly to the press, President Boakai said that, once completed, the project will be the largest of its kind in Liberia.

Presidential Press Secretary Kula V. Fofana revealed that the project is being funded by the Government of Liberia through the Ministries of Finance and Agriculture, with oversight from the Ministry of State. The goal, she said, is to reduce Liberia’s reliance on imported eggs, chickens, and fertilizers.

Fofana described the Liberia Poultry Project as “100% Liberian-owned” and financed through loans. She emphasized its potential to create thousands of jobs and stimulate multiple value chains—including poultry farming, feed production, packaging, and fertilizer processing. She added that the project is a key pillar of the President’s ARREST Agenda, particularly in the areas of agricultural revitalization, rural empowerment, and food self-sufficiency.

Minister Mamaka Bility, in high spirits during the tour, also expressed strong optimism: “The project will succeed,” she declared.

However, since the President’s visit and the subsequent announcement, key stakeholders in the poultry sector have raised concerns about the project’s structure and implementation. Despite repeated appeals for clarity, the government has remained tight-lipped, fueling widespread unease among poultry industry players and the broader public.

FrontPage Africa has obtained a leaked communication from the Liberia Poultry Federation (LIPOF) to President Boakai, seeking “clarification and engagement on the government’s poultry sector investment.”

In the letter, LIPOF expressed concern that the idea of a government-established poultry facility—introduced with little to no consultation with existing operators—has triggered serious apprehension among Liberian producers about the potential impact on their businesses and the sector overall.

“To address these concerns responsibly, we convened a meeting of poultry stakeholders, during which various sentiments were expressed. The prevailing concern, however, centered on the fear that such an investment, if not transparently structured and integrated with sector stakeholders, could displace or severely disadvantage existing local producers,” the letter stated.

According to the letter, LIPOF engaged with the leadership of both the Liberia Chamber of Commerce and the Liberia Business Association. Together, they agreed that “responsible engagement requires a full understanding of the facts and objectives behind this government-backed initiative.”

“FrontPage Africa reached out to LIPOF to verify the authenticity of the letter, but the Federation did not respond as of press time. However, a member of LIPOF, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly, disclosed that the Federation had contacted the relevant oversight ministries but received no substantive information about the project. ‘Everyone is saying they don’t know much about the project. They say it’s being run by the Ministry of State. Everywhere we go, we’re told to direct our questions to the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of State. But since we reached out to them, we’ve received no response,’ the source said.”

 FPA also contacted the key ministries involved, including the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs, the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning and the Ministry of Agriculture but received no responses.

Presidential Press Secretary Kula Fofana told FPA she was engaging relevant officials to provide a full response. Mrs. Patience S. Kumeh, Director of Communications at the Ministry of Finance, also promised to respond but had not done so at the time of publication.

Amid the government’s silence, FPA investigation uncovered that funding for the poultry project is being secured through an export credit loan agreement between the Government of Liberia and Bank Leumi Le-Israel B.M., totaling EUR 21,558,226. According to our source, the agreement was ratified in 2023 under the 54th Legislature through an act titled: “An Act to Ratify the Financing Agreement – Export Credit Facility between the Republic of Liberia and Bank Leumi Le-Israel B.M.” The act was passed by the Legislature on July 25, 2023, and approved by then-President George Weah on August 21, 2023.

Despite the existence of this ratified loan agreement, critical questions remain unanswered, If the project is funded through a loan, how much has been disbursed to date? What is the extent of private sector involvement? Who are the private sector partners, and what share of the project do they hold? What percentage of the project is owned by the government, and how is the project being managed?

This is a two-part series. Part II looks at the validity of the act ratifying the loan agreement, the repayment plan and how much has been disbursed to the government of Liberia.

Zwedru City – The reburial of slain former President Samuel Kanyon Doe in Grand Gedeh County over the weekend has been marred by lingering doubts about the handling of his remains, following resurfaced claims by the late Senator Prince Y. Johnson.

By J.H. Webster Clayeh

Social media footage from a past Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) hearing shows Senator Johnson, who led the INPFL rebel faction that captured and killed Doe, admitting that initial burial took place with a marked grave but later stating that U.S. soldiers exhumed the body, cremated it, and dumped his ashes in a river. Johnson also claimed Doe’s body had become so hardened after 25 years it required excavation.

President Joseph Boakai officiated the reburial at Zwedru City Hall, attended by members of the Doe family, government officials, clergy, traditional leaders, and thousands of citizens. 

In his address, Boakai praised Doe’s efforts toward national development, acknowledged historical misunderstandings, and called the event a moment of national healing, urging Liberians to confront the past and unite in reconciliation.

However, Presidential Press Secretary Kula Fofana had not confirmed whether the casket presented contained Doe’s remains by press time.

During the event, Representative Yekeh Kolubah (Montserrado County District #10) claimed the casket was empty and accused the government of deceiving Doe’s family and Grand Gedeh residents. His public statement fueled tensions during the ceremony.

Traditional warlord Joshua Melvin Blahyi, known as “General Butt Naked,” criticized Kolubah’s remarks and warned against incitement. Kolubah responded defiantly, challenging Blahyi and asserting his own deeper roots in Grand Gedeh. He accused both Blahyi and President Boakai of failing to deliver jobs and support to locals.

Meanwhile, President Boakai also honored former First Lady Nancy Bohn Doe, describing her as a steadfast and supportive partner. He urged Liberians to reject division and move forward together in hope.

The conflicting narratives—Senator Johnson’s dramatic past testimony, Kolubah’s vocal skepticism, and the lack of confirmation on the remains—have cast uncertainty over the symbolic purpose of the reburial. Many observers now question whether the reburial will achieve its goal of bringing closure and national unity.

Monrovia – Four major opposition political parties have issued a joint call for President Joseph Boakai to appoint a Special Prosecutor to investigate allegations of police misconduct, witness tampering, and mishandling of evidence in the ongoing Capitol arson case.

By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, gerald.koinyeneh@frontpageafricaonline.com

The parties—Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), Alternative National Congress (ANC), Citizens Movement for Change (CMC), and the Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE)—voiced their concerns in a statement released on Monday, asserting that the current investigation has been marred by irregularities that threaten the integrity of the justice system.

“Because the police and the Ministry of Justice cannot investigate themselves, we believe that the appointment of a special prosecutor—with a letter patent authorizing the investigation and prosecution of criminal conduct, witness tampering, and the mishandling of evidence—will best serve the interests of justice… It is not only the rights of Liberian citizens under the Constitution that are at stake, but the Constitution itself,” the joint statement reads.

The opposition parties said they were alarmed by reports surrounding the investigation and arrest of lawmakers and private citizens linked to the Capitol fire—initially declared arson by police investigators.

“We are concerned and wish to bring to the attention of the Liberian public and our international partners issues of grave concern regarding the investigation and arrest of certain lawmakers and other Liberian citizens… Based on the facts and in accordance with the law… we request the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate and, where necessary, prosecute proven instances of witness tampering by certain members of the Liberian security forces.”

While expressing support for the prosecution of those responsible for the arson, the opposition warned that flawed investigative processes risk convicting innocent people.

“Let us be clear: we support the vigorous prosecution of anyone involved in the commission of the crime of arson at the Liberian Capitol. However, the investigation has been marred by troubling events that, if proper care is not taken, could lead to the conviction of innocent persons—a grave miscarriage of justice.”

Accused Lawmakers and Growing Skepticism

Since charges were brought against former House Speaker Jonathan Fonati Koffa, along with Dixon Seboe, Abu Kamara, Jacob Debee, and Priscillia Cooper, the opposition has raised concerns over the handling of the case by police and prosecutors.

In a show of solidarity, party leaders—including former President George Weah (CDC), Alexander Cummings (ANC), Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah (MOVEE), and Musa Hassan Bility (CMC)—gathered at the Temple of Justice and the Monrovia Central Prison during the lawmakers’ detention. They described the arrests as a political maneuver designed to imprison the lawmakers without due process.

Witness Tampering and Torture Claims

The opposition statement detailed several incidents that raise concerns of human rights abuses and manipulation of testimony.

Thomas Etheridge: Taken to the Liberia National Police for questioning on January 9, 2025, in the presence of his lawyer. Later, he was reportedly transferred to the National Security Agency (NSA) headquarters in White Plains, where he was allegedly tortured and pressured to sign a prepared statement implicating former Speaker Koffa. He refused and was subsequently charged with arson.

Andrew Lawson and Albert Weah: Arrested by the LNP’s Anti-Robbery Unit on January 4 and transferred to NSA custody. Both claim they were tortured for eight days and forced to sign false statements. Weah protested that he was at Central Prison the day of the fire, while Lawson said he was offered $2,000 USD to sign a false confession, which he refused. Both were later released on Tubman Boulevard. Lawson has since fled the country and reportedly given testimony abroad as a victim of torture.

John Nyanti: Allegedly lured to testify against the lawmakers. Upon arrival in Monrovia on June 6, he was taken by police to the Lifestyle Luxury Hotel, where he remained for eight days. He claimed he was offered between $50,000 and $200,000 USD to implicate former Speaker Koffa. Family members reportedly confirmed the story. He refused the offer and was later charged after spending 11 days in custody—well beyond the 48-hour constitutional limit.

Baccus Karpeh, Patrick Hallie, and Gabriel Fansieh: Arrested on June 4 and held for over five days on arson charges. They were released without explanation after allegedly refusing to implicate others. Their only apparent connection to the case was living in District #16 and having ties to Rep. Seboe.

Christian Koffa: Arrested on the same writ but remains missing. His family alleges he has been kidnapped. He has not been seen by his lawyer and is reportedly being held at a separate hotel and coerced to testify falsely.

Allegations of Bias and Selective Justice

The opposition parties argue that arson, while serious, is not a capital offense and does not justify the denial of bail. They claim selective justice is being applied and question why other leads have not been pursued.

“The arbitrary denial of this right to selected individuals on apparent political grounds not only violates the Constitution but also undermines the principle of impartial justice.”

They further questioned who removed the chairs from the Joint Chambers,ccut the electrical wires to the Speaker’s office and how could five people enter a guarded building, set it ablaze, and leave undetected.

They questioned why no explanation been given for the lawmaker reportedly seen at the Capitol around 9:00 p.m. the night before the fire and whether an electrical fault or other non-incendiary cause are being considered.

They also refuted a claim by the Police Inspector General that “we know it was not an electrical fire because the electricity was still on,” calling it “patently false.”

Final Appeal for Justice

“We urge the President to appoint a Special Prosecutor to investigate these grave allegations at this critical juncture. It is not only the rights of Liberian citizens under the Constitution that are at stake, but the Constitution itself,” the statement signed by Atty. Janga A. Kowo – National Chairman, CDC, Cllr. Lafayette O. Gould – National Chairman, Alternative National Congress ANC, Mr. James Yougie – National Chairman, CMC and Mr. Prince G. Mehn – National Chairman, MOVEE.