Amid mounting controversies surrounding alleged corruption and mismanagement in the Unity Party-led government, a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs called President Joseph Boakai to take decisive action.
Assistant Minister for Public Affairs, Madam Saywhar Nana Gbaa, has publicly urged the President to dismiss officials involved in misconduct, stressing that their actions undermine the administration’s efforts to govern effectively.
Madam Gbaa, in a bold Facebook post on Tuesday, February 4, stated that she would rather see herself removed from office than be part of a government that allows corruption to fester.
“Dear Mr. President, even if I’m one of those bringing your government to public ridicule, fire me. No one person should seek their own interest over what the government promised to deliver on and justify their blunder,” she wrote. “We’ve achieved so much, and we won’t allow those blunders to undermine your efforts to rebuild and rescue the country. They paint a blurred picture of the progress made. They must get off the rescue train soon.”
Her statement follows a damning investigative report by Verity News exposing a $75,000 car scandal involving the Chief Executive Officer of the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL), Rustolyn Suacoco Dennis. The report, released just hours before her post, has intensified concerns about corruption in the administration.
Madam Gbaa’s remarks also come after serious allegations from within the Unity Party itself. Prominent UP figure Queen Johnson, widely known as the “Female General,” recently accused President Boakai of fostering corruption by appointing individuals who, according to her, are mismanaging public funds. Speaking at the party’s headquarters on January 22, Johnson declared that “all the ministers and managing directors appointed by Boakai are corrupt.” Her assertion painted a troubling picture of systemic corruption at the highest levels of government.
Meanwhile, fresh allegations have emerged at the National Housing Authority (NHA), where two senior officials have been implicated in illegal land sales. A leaked Executive Mansion investigative report details how Deputy Managing Director for Technical Services, Alex Reily, and Deputy Managing Director for Administration, Prince Bonnah, were engaged in unauthorized land transactions. Reily allegedly mishandled funds paid by the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in the New Georgia Estate Community, while Bonnah reportedly sold public land in Zayzay Community, Paynesville, for $1,500 without proper documentation.
These incidents are part of a growing list of corruption scandals that have plagued Boakai’s first year in office, sparking widespread criticism and calls for accountability. Opposition figures have seized on the turmoil, with Gbarpolu County Senator Edwin Snowe branding the administration as a “one-term government.” On January 30, during the confirmation hearing of Central Bank Governor-designate Henry Saamoi, Snowe remarked, “From all indications, the UP government is a one-term government.” His comments reflect an increasing perception that corruption erodes public confidence in the administration.
Madam Gbaa’s public stance is significant as these allegations continue to develop. Her call for the President to act against corrupt officials signals deep frustration even within government ranks. While her statement stops short of naming specific individuals, the timing and context make clear that she is referring to the latest corruption scandals rocking the administration.
The pressure is mounting on President Boakai to take concrete action against officials implicated in corruption. Many observers believe that failure to act decisively will only embolden more misconduct and further damage the administration’s credibility. The President campaigned on a promise to rescue Liberia from corruption and bad governance, but as allegations pile up, critics argue that his leadership is failing to meet those expectations.
Madam Gbaa’s comments have resonated with many who are increasingly disillusioned with the state of governance. Public reaction to her statement has been mixed, with some applauding her courage while others question whether her call will lead to any real change. Some citizens argue that her comments highlight an internal power struggle within the administration, while others see them as an honest attempt to push for accountability.
Despite the gravity of the allegations, the Boakai administration has yet to formally respond to Madam Gbaa’s statement or the series of corruption accusations surfacing in recent weeks. This silence has fueled speculation about whether the President is willing to take action or if political considerations will prevent him from addressing the issue head-on.
