MONROVIA — President Joseph Nyuma Boakai told his Cabinet on Thursday that recent arrests involving Chinese nationals underscore the need for Liberia to exercise greater vigilance with its foreign partners. He also insisted that the Liberian government, rather than its international backers, must retain full ownership over its economic and investment decisions.
“We’ve been having some little problems with all of these arrests with the Chinese,” Boakai said during his opening remarks at the Executive Mansion, adding that the nation must remain cautious even with partners it considers reliable in order to protect its interests.
While Boakai did not specify the incidents, Liberian authorities have repeatedly arrested Chinese nationals this year for illegal mining. In May, nearly 20 suspects were apprehended in Montserrado County during a joint operation by the Environmental Protection Agency and the police, followed by another group detained during a June raid in Gbarpolu County. In response, Boakai established a national taskforce to crack down on illicit mining activities.
Expressing satisfaction with the security sector’s performance, the president emphasized that Liberia’s investment choices must prioritize national interests.
“I don’t care how much people understand Liberia, they cannot understand Liberia as much as we do because they can’t understand all of the political twists and turns,” Boakai said. He noted that while the government values the advice and support of international partners, it must ultimately bear responsibility for its own policies. He also urged ministers to present a united front, stating that once the Cabinet reaches a decision, “we should rally around it.”
The session, marking the 26th meeting of Boakai’s Cabinet, opened with the formal introduction of Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh as the new Minister of National Defense. Boakai appointed Tweh as acting defense minister on September 11, just days after removing him from his post as justice minister.
Boakai dedicated a significant portion of his address to demanding results and transparency from his administration. “Performance, performance, performance,” he stressed, reminding officials that they serve the public and must maintain proper records to account to the Liberian people.
The president commended revenue-generating agencies for mobilizing substantial domestic funds, demonstrating the country’s capacity to raise resources locally. However, he pointed out the disparity between tax compliance and public expectations. “It is not a country in which people pay a lot of taxes, but we expect a lot of benefit,” he remarked.
Framing the upcoming national budget as “the people’s budget,” Boakai emphasized that public funds must serve public welfare. He noted that this year’s allocations include support for motorcycle riders, youth initiatives, and dormant institutions the government is working to revitalize, such as the Boy Scouts.
Turning to the broader economy, Boakai credited prudent management for preventing fuel shortages despite global market pressures. “Even up to now we don’t see people queuing up at gas stations,” he said. He added that key staple commodities have remained affordable and accessible, and urged ministers to leverage newly acquired government equipment to boost local agricultural production and reduce reliance on food imports.
Boakai also noted that upgrades to airport access roads are progressing, with the government aiming to ensure smooth transit for travelers by the end of the year. He briefly mentioned that the vice president was absent from the meeting due to official travel abroad.
Following the opening remarks, reporters were excused ahead of closed-door deliberations. The Cabinet’s agenda featured a Government Employee Housing Initiative Framework presented by a special committee led by Civil Service Agency Director-General Josiah F. Joekai, a youth empowerment and development policy from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and an economic growth briefing led by the president’s economic adviser.