President Joseph N. Boakai, on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, publicly condemned corruption and poor governance, declaring that Liberia’s years of conflict were rooted in “weak institutions, lack of accountability, abuse of public trust, and poor stewardship of national resources.”
Speaking at the opening of the 22nd Governing Board Meeting of the African Organization of English-speaking Supreme Audit Institutions at the E.J.S. Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, Boakai said Liberia’s recovery and future stability depend on strong oversight institutions and transparent management of public resources.
Addressing delegates from 26 African countries, the Liberian leader warned that corruption and impunity remain major threats to governance across the continent and vowed that his administration would continue taking aggressive measures against financial misconduct in government.
“Public officials were not appointed to be served but to serve. They must demonstrate stewardship, responsibility, and integrity in managing the resources entrusted to them,” he stated.
In a speech packed with anti-corruption rhetoric, the President highlighted what he described as unprecedented accountability reforms under his administration, including audits of the Office of the President, the Judiciary, the Legislature, and the Central Bank of Liberia.
He also pointed to suspensions and dismissals of government officials accused of financial misconduct, enforcement of asset declaration requirements, and the establishment of institutions such as the Office of the Ombudsman and the Asset Recovery Taskforce. In one of the most striking moments of the address, Boakai revealed that money collected from fines imposed on noncompliant officials was used to purchase school chairs for Liberian students.
The President praised P. Garswa Jackson Sr. and Liberia’s General Auditing Commission for bringing the high-profile AFROSAI-E conference to Liberia for the first time, calling it “a proud moment” and a sign of growing international confidence in Liberia’s governance reforms.
Boakai further argued that Africa’s problem is not a lack of wealth but poor resource management. “Liberia, like many African nations, is not poor,” he said. “Africa is richly endowed with abundant natural resources, fertile soils, vast mineral wealth, and a dynamic, youthful population with enormous potential,” the President narrated.
He urged African audit institutions to remain “guardians of public trust” and defenders of democratic accountability, stressing that Africa’s development goals cannot be achieved without transparency and responsible governance.
The summit brings together Auditor Generals and accountability experts from across English-speaking Africa to review AFROSAI-E’s 2025–2029 Strategic Plan and strengthen regional cooperation on public financial oversight.
