Monrovia, Liberia – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. is facing a wave of public backlash following the announcement of a 23-member official delegation, excluding presidential security, protocol, press, and attendant staff, for a week-long trip to Japan. The large team has drawn immediate comparison to the widely criticized foreign travels of former President George Weah.
President Boakai departs Liberia today, Saturday, August 16, 2025, for the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD-9), to be held in Yokohama from August 20 to 22, 2025.
TICAD, established in 1993, is a high-level summit co-organized by the Government of Japan, the United Nations, the World Bank, and the African Union Commission. It aims to strengthen Africa–Japan partnership in development, trade, and cooperation.
According to the Executive Mansion, the President’s participation is focused on advancing Liberia’s development agenda, promoting foreign partnerships, and seeking investment opportunities. He is also expected to attend strategic meetings at Expo 2025 to boost Liberia’s global visibility.
Full Delegation List:
Among those accompanying the President are:
1. Hon. Sara Beysolow Nyanti – Minister of Foreign Affairs
2. Hon. Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan – Minister of Finance and Development Planning
3. Hon. Magdalene Ellen Dagoseh – Minister of Commerce and Industry
4. Hon. Wilmot J.M. Paye – Minister of Mines and Energy
5. Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah – Minister of Agriculture
6. Jerolinmek Matthew Piah – Minister of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism
7. Hon. Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah – Minister of Education
8. Hon. Dr. Louise M. Kpoto – Minister of Health
9. Hon. Gbeme Horace Kollie – Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection
10. Hon. Abraham Darius Dillon – Senator, Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs
11. Hon. Nehker E. Gaye – Representative, Chair of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs
12. Hon. Samuel A. Stevquoah – Minister of State Without Portfolio/Special Services
13. Hon. Jeff B. Blibo – Chairman, National Investment Commission
14. Hon. Morley Paul Kamara – Senior Economic Advisor to the President
15. Hon. Sekou A.M. Dukuly – Managing Director, National Port Authority
16. Amb. Mohammed Maladho Bah – Presidential Special Envoy on Investment
17. Amb. Christopher Hayes Onanuga – Presidential Special Envoy on Tourism
18. Amb. Edward Wade Appleton, Jr. – Ambassador of Liberia to Japan
19. Dr. Ibrahim A. Nyei – Deputy Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
20. Charlyne A. Taylor – Assistant Minister for Afro-Asian Affairs
21. Madam Saran Kaba Jones – Assistant Minister/Chief of Office Staff, Foreign Affairs
22. Hon. George Thomas Marshall, Jr. – Assistant Minister for Special Services
23. Mr. James Morzart Strother – President, Liberia Business Association
In addition, a yet-undisclosed number of press, security, protocol, and attendant staff are traveling with the President.
Justice Minister in Charge:
In the President’s absence, Justice Minister Cllr. Natu Oswald Tweh, Sr. will chair the cabinet in consultation with Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung and the President via phone.
Violating His Own Law:
Critics are now accusing President Boakai of violating a travel ordinance that his own administration adopted and passed earlier this year in order to cut down on public waste.
The GOL Revised Travel Ordinance Law of 2025, which took effect on January 2, 2025, explicitly limits the size of delegations for official travels:
Rule #3: “Total GOL funded representation at any program or event held outside Liberia shall not exceed five (5) persons in total regardless of how many entities are involved.”
Rule #4: “For specific trips like high-level meetings such as the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Africa-China Summit, Korea-Africa Summit, and Commission on the Status of Women Conference, maximum number of delegates shall not exceed seven (7).”
TICAD qualifies as a high-level meeting, meaning the delegation should not exceed seven officials, but the President’s team includes more than 23 named delegates and could likely total up to 40 when including unnamed staff.
The Estimated Cost of the Trip:
Breakdowns of government spending on the trip have further inflamed public outrage.
Per Delegate Spending in Japan according to the 2025 Travel Ordinance:
DSA: US$344/day
Per diem: US$110/day
Hotel: US$234/day
Total per day: US$688 (each person)
The total of 7 days (Aug 16-23) is at least US$4,816 per person.
Flight Costs:
On average, Round-trip ticket (Liberia–Japan): US$1,613 per person. So, the cost of tickets for 23 delegates is US$37,099. Assuming it is 40 delegates, it would be US$64,520.
Estimated Total for DSA, Per Diem, and Hotel:
Recognized Delegates (23 people): US$110,768
If actual total reaches 40 persons (as estimated): US$192,640
These staggering numbers, which do not even account for possible contingency or logistical expenses, are being described as extravagant, particularly in light amid increased hardship in Liberia, ranging from economic, education, health declines to employment, security, and drug crises.
Date Discrepancy Raises More Questions:
Another controversy emerged when the Executive Mansion claimed that the conference runs from August 16–23, yet TICAD’s official website confirms that the actual dates are August 20–22, 2025, in Yokohama City.
TICAD, established in 1993 and led by the Government of Japan, has always publicly published conference dates.
Critics are now asking: Why did the delegation leave so early? Is this a case of wasteful pre-conference spending, especially as Liberians face skyrocketing prices and worsening unemployment?
Public Reactions and Charges of Hypocrisy:
Online reactions have been swift and sharp. Many Liberians are accusing the administration of political hypocrisy, especially pointing to Senator Abraham Darius Dillon, who once lambasted former President Weah for sending a 23-man team to Senegal in 2019.
“Pres. George Weah and his 24-man delegation going to ball and gig in Senegal next week for a week. LRA collect more of our taxes.” ~ Dillon, May 29, 2019.
Six years later, Dillon himself is part of a similarly oversized delegation, prompting fierce criticism.
“Mr. President, why are you traveling with over 23 persons amid extreme hardship underpinned by rising prices and declining purchasing power, which you admitted to on July 26, 2025?” — Activist Martin K. N. Kollie.”
One citizen under Kollie’s post summed up the sentiment:
“This looks like old wine in new bottles. We expected a change in how our leaders manage state resources, but it seems the same pattern is continuing.”
Return Date:
According to the Executive Mansion, the President alongside his delegation is expected to return immediately after the conclusion of the conference and related engagements.
