On January 27, 2025, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai delivered his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) to the National Legislature, outlining a broad vision for Liberia’s future. His speech covered many issues, including the government’s accomplishments over the past year and the administration’s ongoing commitment to combating corruption.
However, while Boakai’s address included several promises of transparency and accountability, both civil society leaders and lawmakers have sharply criticized his anti-corruption efforts.
In his speech, the President emphasized the importance of rooting out corruption, an issue that has long plagued Liberia’s public institutions. He pointed to significant efforts in auditing public institutions and ensuring that government officials adhere to high ethical standards. However, despite the President’s optimistic rhetoric, critics quickly pointed out that his administration had failed to match words with actions, especially when it comes to holding officials accountable for corruption.
Anderson D. Miamen, Executive Director of the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL), was one of the first to express disappointment in Boakai’s handling of corruption issues. Miamen acknowledged that the President had made some progress in other areas, but he argued that the fight against corruption had not been one of them. Miamen’s criticism was particularly pointed when he referenced specific cases where the President’s actions had fallen short.
“The President claims to be serious about tackling corruption, but his actions show otherwise,” Miamen stated. “He removed the board of commissioners at the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) after corruption allegations surfaced. Yet, the acting chairperson of the LTA, who is implicated in a General Auditing Commission (GAC) report, remains untouched.” Miamen also criticized Boakai for failing to take any significant action against officials who had not declared their assets or had been involved in other forms of misconduct. He questioned why the President had been reluctant to address these issues directly.
Rep. Clarence Gahr, Chairman of the Joint Legislative Public Accounts Committee (PAC), also joined the chorus of critics, accusing the President of using anti-corruption rhetoric as little more than a public relations tactic. Gahr claimed that the administration’s so-called efforts to combat corruption were nothing more than a smokescreen, with Boakai replacing corrupt officials with loyalists rather than addressing the root causes of corruption.
“The truth is that the President is using institutions like the General Auditing Commission to remove officials, but instead of replacing them with qualified individuals, he’s filling these positions with political supporters,” Gahr said. “This is not about accountability but loyalty and deals behind closed doors. We are not seeing any real effort to hold people accountable for corruption.”
Gahr’s criticism focused on the lack of meaningful consequences for officials implicated in corruption scandals. He pointed to recent events at the LTA and the Central Bank of Liberia, where senior officials had been suspended after audit reports raised concerns about mismanagement, but he argued that these officials were allowed to avoid significant repercussions through undisclosed settlement agreements. Gahr questioned the President’s commitment to the fight against corruption, noting that without genuine political will, efforts to combat graft would remain shallow and ineffective.
While civil society and lawmakers criticized his administration strongly, President Boakai remained steadfast in defending its record. In his SONA, Boakai pointed to the progress made in auditing key institutions, including the Executive Protection Service, the Central Bank, and the LTA. He emphasized that the GAC had published audits covering 60 out of 80 institutions, some revealing serious weaknesses in public financial management.
“We have made strides in improving the transparency of our government,” Boakai said, adding that payroll audits had removed thousands of ghost names from the government payroll, saving the country millions. He also mentioned that his government had supported the independence of integrity institutions, allowing them to operate free from political interference. In addition, he noted that both he and Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung had declared their assets publicly as part of the administration’s commitment to transparency.
Boakai’s speech also touched on reforms to improve accountability, including introducing a Performance Management and Compliance System. He highlighted the appointment of the Ombudsman after years of delay and mentioned that cabinet members and agency heads had signed codes of conduct and performance contracts. The President believed these measures would help curb corruption in the long run.
However, despite Boakai’s assurances, the criticism continued to mount. Anti-corruption advocates and legislators alike were unconvinced by the President’s promises, arguing that his administration had not taken enough concrete steps to address the country’s pervasive corruption problems. Miamen and Gahr both stressed that while audits and transparency measures were necessary, they were insufficient without genuine accountability for those implicated in wrongdoing.
The lack of tangible results addressing corruption has been a recurring theme in Liberian politics. In his remarks, Miamen drew a parallel between Boakai’s administration and former President George Weah, noting that Weah’s failure to tackle corruption significantly affected his loss during the 2023 presidential election. Miamen warned that if Boakai continued down the same path, he risked facing similar consequences in the next election.
Rep. Gahr also expressed concerns about the political ramifications of Boakai’s handling of corruption. He argued that the Liberian people would continue to lose faith in the government unless the President took more assertive action to root out corruption.
