By: Emmanuel Toe
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has dismissed allegations that a major construction project underway in Foya, Lofa County, is being funded with public resources for his personal benefit, clarifying that the initiative is a regional peace-building project under the Mano River Union (MRU).
Speaking on state-owned radio, President Boakai firmly rejected claims that the government is constructing a private retirement home for him, stressing that he has never misused public funds for personal purposes.
“I have never taken government money for any personal use,” the President stated. “The project in Foya is not a Boakai project. It is for peace-building in the sub-region.”
According to the President, the facility is intended to serve as a sub-regional hub for diplomacy, conflict resolution, and international meetings within the MRU framework, positioning Foya as a strategic location for resolving cross-border crises.
Boakai further disclosed that the project commenced without his direct involvement and is not registered in his name. He explained that planners may have deliberately avoided informing him initially, anticipating his resistance due to concerns about public perception.
“They knew very well that I would have resisted it at the beginning because I did not want anything done in Foya that could be interpreted as being for me,” he said.
Addressing funding concerns, the President clarified that the project is not financed solely by the Liberian government. Instead, it is supported through MRU mechanisms, with financial contributions from member states.
Responding to speculation about his retirement plans, President Boakai acknowledged his intention to retire in Foya but emphasized that he already owns a private residence there.
He noted that the property had previously been used for several years by the humanitarian organization Samaritan’s Purse.The President reiterated that the Foya facility remains a public, international asset dedicated to regional peace and cooperation.
