MONROVIA – Leaked Documents Show that former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor Has Received Benefits Despite Public Denial
Contrary to public claims that she was denied benefits, Verity News through its investigation has sourced leaked financial documents revealing that former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor has been receiving retirement benefits since leaving office in January 2024 as a former Vice President of Liberia.
This disclosure directly contradicts her recent assertion that the Unity Party-led administration has refused to provide her any post-service entitlements as a former official of government.
Madam Howard-Taylor, speaking on the popular Spoon Talk program on Sunday, April 6, 2025, alleged that she had been entirely neglected by the government of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai. According to her, repeated attempts to communicate with authorities regarding her benefits were met with silence.
She also described her current condition as one of abandonment, claiming that she had received no official vehicle and was forced to rely on personal means for transportation.
“I left office without a single vehicle,” she told the nation during the live broadcast. “I was left stranded at the Executive Mansion during the inauguration of President Boakai and had to wait under a tree for a private ride home.”
However, official financial records sourced and reviewed by Verity News paint a different picture. According to a leaked internal Ministry of Finance documentation, Madam Taylor has even received the bulk of her entitlements, specifically, 70% of her benefits in U.S. dollars and 30% in LRD. The records show that for the month of March 2025, Madam Howard-Taylor received a net payment of USD $782.52, which represents her 70% net Liberian dollar-based entitlement. In addition, she received LRD $66,311.52 as part of the net 30% local currency portion of her benefits. The total gross benefits for Madam Howard-Taylor for the month of March 2025 was US$1,432.35 which net benefits amounted to US$1,117.88 after a tax deduction of US$314.47.
These payments are consistent with established procedures and precedents followed by previous administrations, including that of her own, under former President George Weah. The benefits structure, which includes a combination of U.S. dollar and Liberian dollar payments, is standard for all qualifying former officials. The 70% portion is disbursed in U.S. dollars, while the remaining 30%, commonly referred to as the Local Dollar Residual (LDR), is paid in Liberian dollars.
The leaked March 2025 Payment documents also captured US$2,305.83 each as original gross benefits for for Presidents Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and George M. Weah.
Government insiders, speaking on condition of anonymity, say that confusion over the presentation of the payment sheets might be contributing to public misunderstandings. “The documentation clearly shows that she received her dues. This is the same structure used for all former officials, including former President Weah,” one official stated.
With the emergence of these documents, critics argue that the former Vice President’s statements on national media appear misleading and potentially politically motivated. As the Boakai administration continues to come under scrutiny from former officials, the release of verifiable records is likely to intensify public debate over transparency, accountability, and the treatment of past leaders.
