— Mayor Siafa Unveils Vision for a Cleaner, Safer Capital
Monrovia, Liberia – June 3, 2025 – The Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) has embarked on an aggressive campaign to eradicate internal corruption while simultaneously forging new partnerships to modernize Liberia’s capital, Mayor John-Chanukah S. Siafa announced today at a Ministry of Information press briefing.
Mayor Siafa disclosed that several MCC employees have been suspended for their alleged involvement in fraudulent payroll practices, including inflating staff numbers and misappropriating public funds. Formal reports have been submitted to the Liberia National Police and the Internal Audit Agency (IAA) for investigation.
“Some individuals employed with the MCC have consistently worked to corrupt the system,” Mayor Siafa stated. “We have already taken action by suspending those involved with immediate effect. This is a new era of transparency and accountability.”
The Mayor emphasized that he was not summoned by any anti-graft body but voluntarily invited the IAA and other oversight institutions to investigate payroll discrepancies. He also confirmed that the MCC requested its partner bank to provide detailed salary transaction data, following an incident where an altered payroll was submitted without authorization.
“This shows our commitment to clean governance,” Siafa stressed. “We are building a system that works for the people, not a few individuals.”
Mayor Siafa also addressed public misconceptions about the scope of MCC’s responsibilities, clarifying that individual townships such as Paynesville, Duala, and Bushrod Island have their own commissioners and are responsible for maintaining cleanliness in their respective jurisdictions.
“Do not blame the MCC for dirt in areas outside our mandate,” the Mayor said. “Each township must take responsibility, and we’re providing cleaning materials to support these efforts.”
Outlining his broader reform agenda, Mayor Siafa unveiled a string of international collaborations aimed at transforming Monrovia’s infrastructure and services. China is donating a fire truck and assisting in establishing Monrovia’s first Municipal Fire Department. Twenty-five Liberian students will soon receive full scholarships through a partnership with the Monrovia Consolidated School System, and a Chinese medical team is expected soon to offer surgeries and professional training.
Mayor Siafa added that U.S. cities, including Trenton, Dayton, and Winston-Salem, are contributing firefighting trucks and gear, with a new truck expected to arrive in July or August. South Korea will provide digital training for 100 Liberian youth, with one outstanding participant earning a trip to Seoul.
“This is not just about changing how Monrovia looks. It’s about changing how Monrovia works for everyone,” Siafa told reporters.
Waste management, a long-standing challenge for the capital, is also receiving a major facelift. With an $8 million allocation from the government, the MCC is decentralizing waste collection by empowering local communities with logistics and resources. The corporation is currently reviewing international proposals to modernize the city’s waste infrastructure, potentially introducing waste-to-energy solutions and creating job opportunities.
“This is not about patchwork cleaning,” Siafa explained. “It’s about sustainable systems that outlast our terms.”
With Monrovia’s population projected to grow from 1.1 million to 1.4 million in the next decade, Mayor Siafa revealed plans to develop a comprehensive master plan in collaboration with the World Bank and the Ministry of Public Works. The plan will focus on zoning, infrastructure, and essential public services. He also hinted at ambitious waterfront redevelopment plans supported by the Gap Fund, aiming to transform underutilized spaces into economic and recreational hubs.
Despite the challenges, Mayor Siafa expressed optimism, stating that Monrovia is on the cusp of real change.
“Transforming Monrovia is not an event. It is a process,” he said in closing. “And it is one we must walk together as government, citizens, and partners.”
As local communities begin to engage and international support grows, Mayor Siafa’s leadership appears to be ushering in a new chapter for Monrovia—one rooted in reform, accountability, and shared progress.