Consistent with Article 50 of Liberia’s 1986 constitution, President Joseph Boakia was sworn in as the 26th President of the country on the second working Monday of January 22. As part of formulating his government, President Boakai appointed officials to manage key institutions per Article 54 of the 1986 constitution of Liberia.
This section of the Constitution gives the President the power to nominate and with the consent of the Senate appoint and commission cabinet ministers, deputy, and assistant cabinet ministers; ambassadors, ministers, consuls; and the Chief Justice and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court and judges of subordinate courts among others.
So, how many appointments have Mr. Boakai made since his inauguration? Considering the numerous list of individuals names that have been parading Facebook in the las couple of weeks.
Some of these lists are fake or mere speculation. The Presidential Press Secretary, Madam Kula Fofana took to social media on February 6 to debunk disinformation about fake list of nominees.
Madam Fofana has been making several Facebook posts in reaction to disinformation and misinformation about appointments while urging people to rely on the official channels (website and social media) for information regarding appointments.
So, how many appointments have been made so far?
On January 22, hours after being sworn into office, the Liberian leader made an initial appointment in his government including Mr. Boima S. Kamara – Minister of Finance & Development Planning, Mr. Sylvester M. Grigsby – Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Mr. S. Kofi Woods, National Security Advisor, Mr. Gregory Coleman – Inspector General, Liberia National Police and, Mr. Sam Gaye – Director of the Executive Protection Service (EPS). This was the first five nominations.
Three days later, on Thursday, January 25, he appointed Fofana as Presidential Press Secretary.
Then on Friday, January 26, the Liberian leader continued his nomination.
This time, he nominated an additional twelve officials to positions in government affecting the Ministries of Finance Development Planning, Justice, Information, Cultural Affairs & Tourism, Youth & Sports, Gender Children & Social Protection, Public Works and Transport as well as the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC).
They include Cllr. Jeror Cole Bangalu – Minister, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Cllr. Cooper W. Kruah – Minister, Ministry of Justice, Mr. Jerolinmek M. Piah – Minister, Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism, Madam Gbeme Horace Kollie – Minister, Ministry of Gender Children and Social Protection, Mr. Roland Giddings – Minister, Ministry of Public Works, and Mr. Sirleaf Tyler – Minister, Ministry of Transport.
Others include Mr. Bill Mcgill Jones – Deputy Minister for Administration, Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, Mr. Dehpue Zuo – Deputy Minister for Economic Management, Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, Mr. Anthony Myers – Deputy Minister for Fiscal Affairs, Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, Madam Tanneh Branson – Deputy Minister for Budget & Development Planning, Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, Mr. Elwood T. Nettey – Comptroller & Accountant General, Ministry of Finance and Development Planning and Mr. Amos Tweh – Managing Director, Liberia Petroleum Refining Company.
By the end of January, Mr. Boakai had appointed 18 officials of government.
On February 1, his nomination affected the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Liberia Institute for Statistics and Geo-Information Services, Monrovia City Corporation, the Ministry of Public Works, the Ministry of Gender Children & Social Protection, and the Roberts International Airport.
The appointed officials are: Mr. Francis Sakala Nyumalin, Minister, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Mr. Richard F. Ngafuan, Director General, Liberia Institute for Statistics & Geo-Information Service, Mr. John Charuk Siafa, City Mayor, City of Monrovia, Mr. Prince Desea Tambah, Deputy Minister for Technical Services, Ministry of Public Works, Mr. Smukai Dunnoh, Deputy Minister for Administration, Ministry of Public Works, Ms. Jocelia J. Taplah, Deputy Minister for Rural Development & Community Service, Ministry of Public Works, Ms. Laura Golakeh, Deputy Minister for Gender, Ministry of Gender Child & Social Protection, and Mr. Frederick S. Cooper, Deputy Minister for Administration, Ministry of Gender, Children & Social Protection.
Others include Ms. Garmai Tokpah, Deputy Minister for Children & Social Protection, Ministry of Gender Children & Social Protection, Mr. Curtis V. Dorley, Deputy Minister for Research, Policy and Planning, Ministry of Gender Children & Social Protection, Ms. Tebeh Myers Glay, Assistant Minister for Administration, Ministry of Gender Children & Social Protection, Ms. Josephine Greaves, Assistant Minister for Children & Social Protection, Ministry of Gender Children & Social Protection and Madam Ophelia Kennedy, Assistant Minister for Gender, Ministry of Gender Children & Social Protection.
In the evening hours of February 1, Pres. Boakai made additional appointments focusing on the Ministry of State, the National Port Authority, the National Investment Commission, the Ministry of Defense, as well as the Armed Forces of Liberia, and the Office of the President.
Those appointed are: Madam Mamaka Bility, Minister of State Without Portfolio, Ministry of State, Mr. Samuel A. Stevquoah, Minister of State without Portfolio/Special Services, Ministry of State, Attorney Cornelia Kruah Togba, Deputy Minister for Administration, Ministry of State, Madam Ora Richards, Deputy Minister for Budget and Finance, Ministry of State, Mr. Sekou Dukuly, Managing Director, National Port Authority, Mr. James Bernard, Deputy Managing Director for Administration, National Port Authority, and Mr. Jeff Blibo, Chairman, National Investment Commission.
Others include Mr. Melvin Sheriff, Executive Director, National Investment Commission, Major General Prince C. Johnson, retired and nominated as Minister of the Ministry of Defense, Brigadier General Geraldine George, retired and nominated as Deputy Minister for Operations, Ministry of Defense, and Major General Daniel D. Ziankahn, nominated as Ambassador-Designate.
Others are, Col. Davidson T. Forleh, promoted to the rank of Brigadier General and nominated for Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Liberia, Col. Theophilus Dana, nominated as Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Liberia, and Ms. Morie Yaude Nemah, Executive Assistant, Office of the President, Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs.
On Saturday, February 3, President Boakai appointed Mr. Morley P. Kamara as Economic Advisor. His appointment takes immediate effect.
To date, President Boakai has made 46 nominations covering ministries, agencies and state-owned enterprises (SOEs).
