Gov't Is No Friendship Club’: Boakai Warns Poor Performers Will Be Replaced

President demands results from ministers, closer supervision of deputies and assistants, and tougher checks on public contracts

Executive Mansion, Liberia: President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has warned that government officials who fail to perform will be replaced, saying personal relationships cannot take priority over the work they were appointed to do.

Speaking at the 25th Cabinet Meeting at the Executive Mansion on Friday, Boakai told ministers that holding public office comes with a responsibility to deliver results for Liberians.

Government, he said, is “not a friendship club” or a “family club.”

The warning puts the performance of officials at the centre of his message to the Cabinet: appointments must come with accountability, and remaining in office must depend on the ability to do the job.

Boakai directed ministers to pay closer attention to the work of their deputies and assistant ministers. He called for stricter supervision and regular performance reports to establish whether officials are meeting their responsibilities.

His remarks placed responsibility on ministers to ensure that the people serving under them contribute to the work of their ministries. That means identifying poor performance, demanding improvements and keeping track of what has been achieved.

The President said government work must be judged by documented progress and results that people can see, rather than by activities alone.

That distinction raises a direct question for officials: what has their work actually changed for the people they serve?

Under the approach Boakai outlined, reporting that an activity took place will not be enough. Officials must be able to show what it accomplished and how it improved public service.

He also called for better service delivery, stressing that government programmes must produce tangible benefits for Liberians. His message linked the continued service of public officials to the quality of the work they deliver.

Warning Over Poor-Quality Public Projects

Boakai extended his warning to the handling of public contracts, urging officials responsible for government projects to enforce quality standards and delivery deadlines.

He cautioned against contractors who use substandard materials or compromise the quality of public works.

The directive places pressure on officials overseeing contracts to examine both how projects are carried out and whether the finished work meets the required standard.

Timely completion also formed part of the President’s message. He urged officials to ensure that contractors deliver within agreed periods, alongside meeting the quality expected of them.

His remarks brought two areas of government responsibility into focus: the performance of appointed officials and the standard of work delivered through public contracts.

In both cases, the demand was for closer supervision and evidence of results.

Accountability for the Remaining Years

Looking ahead, Boakai described the administration’s remaining three years as a period that must be focused on accountability, quality and benefits for the public.

He urged officials to make government programmes count for the people they are intended to serve.

The President did not name any official for removal in the account provided, nor did he announce a timetable for replacements. His warning, however, made clear that poor performance could cost officials their positions.

For ministers, deputies and assistants, the message was direct: personal ties will not excuse failure, and public office must be justified by the work done.