Monrovia – President Joseph Boakai is facing public criticism after a luxury Lexus LX 700HR Ultra Luxury SUV was spotted in his convoy at an event hosted by the Central Bank of Liberia on Thursday, March 27, 2025. The controversy stems from Boakai’s previous condemnation of extravagant government spending on vehicles, a stance he took in October 2024 when he pledged to prioritize practical governance over lavish expenditures.
Critics argue that the presence of the high-end vehicle in his motorcade contradicts his commitment to curbing unnecessary government spending, especially as Liberia continues to grapple with economic difficulties. The sighting has fueled concerns over whether the administration is deviating from its promise of fiscal discipline.
Social justice and anti-corruption advocate Anderson D. Miamen was among those who publicly criticized the display of wealth, emphasizing that leadership should not be defined by luxury. “A leader should aim for his/her security to come from the people and not the number of expensive and highly protected cars purchased or the number of assigned security details,” Miamen wrote on social media. “If people wastefully spent on expensive vehicles yesterday, it does not justify similar actions today. We need to have a cutoff point for all these decisions that only benefit the few people at the top.”
Similarly, Patrick M’bayo condemned the use of such an expensive vehicle while public schools in rural Liberia lack basic furniture. “At a time when children in rural Liberia are forced to sit on bare floors due to a lack of basic school furniture, President Joseph Boakai is parading around in the latest luxury Lexus LX 800, a glaring symbol of excess and opulence in the face of national suffering,” he wrote. “While international aid continues to dwindle, crippling critical sectors like education, healthcare, and agriculture, the president chooses luxuriousness over obligation. This outrageous display of insensitivity is not just tone-deaf; it is a brutal insult to every struggling Liberian and a clear sign of a leadership that has lost touch with the realities of its people.”
Adding a touch of sarcasm, lawyer and political commentator Moriah Yeakula-Korkpor questioned the cost of the vehicle, writing, “Akay, I can’t admire the President’s fine new bulletproof ‘wheelbarrow’ again? Ay fine ownpah. How much for the wheelbarrow seh?”
The Boakai administration has yet to respond to the growing criticism.
