President Joseph N. Boakai has broken ground for a new Ministry of Justice complex, marking a decisive shift in Liberia’s long-standing reliance on rented public offices.
The President reaffirms his administration’s commitment to building permanent state institutions that reflect national dignity and stability.
Speaking Thursday, January 29, 2026 at the ceremony attended by lawmakers, cabinet ministers, clergy, security officials, and members of the media, President Boakai said Liberia can no longer function as a sovereign state while key ministries operate from privately owned buildings ill-suited for public service delivery and record keeping.
“For too long, almost every major government institution has been housed in a building owned by somebody else. Public buildings are not temporary structures. They are permanent symbols of the state, built for purpose, built to last,” he added.
Drawing from personal experience as a former vice president, Boakai emphasized that the cost of constructing public buildings should not overshadow their long-term value.
He argued that decades of neglect have resulted in the loss of records, inefficiencies, and a lack of institutional continuity caused by frequent relocations from one rented facility to another.
He compared Liberia’s situation to older democracies, noting that public buildings in countries such as the United States and Italy have stood for more than a century, serving generations while preserving history, records, and national identity.
The President stressed that the new Temple of Justice complex will be designed specifically to meet the operational needs of the Ministry of Justice, providing structured offices, secure record-keeping systems, and a conducive working environment for public servants.
“When you rent a building, you try to force it to become what it was never meant to be. But when you build your own, you design it for its true purpose, and people work better in dignity,” Boakai said.
He assured the public that funding for the project has been secured, with strict oversight from engineers and technical experts to ensure quality construction and prevent corner-cutting.
Boakai: “This is Liberia’s building. We want the best for Liberia, and there will be no shortcuts.”
The President linked the justice complex to a broader national vision that includes transforming public markets, decongesting commercial centers, and investing in youth development through planned football academies in Bong and Montserrado counties.
He called for stronger protection of national resources, lamenting years of revenue leakage that benefited private interests at the expense of future generations.
“We must build Liberia for Liberians. Good schools, strong institutions, quality public buildings, these are what make people believe in their country and stay to build it,” the President said.
