President Joseph Nyuma Boakai of Liberia has made a startling admission, publicly stating that a significant, highly secured construction project in his hometown of Foya began without his knowledge. This disclosure has ignited national and international scrutiny, raising serious questions about who authorized the multi-million-dollar endeavor, how it is being financed, and whether the executive oversight mechanisms of Liberia's new administration are functioning effectively.

Boakai addressed the controversy during a nationwide broadcast on the state-run Liberia Broadcasting System. He sought to dispel months of intense speculation that the expansive compound, currently under construction in Lofa County, was intended as a private presidential villa. Emphatically denying any personal benefit, President Boakai clarified that the facility was never designed to be a retirement residence. "I don't need a retirement home built for me by the public," Boakai asserted. "I have a house in Foya. I will rebuild it myself. I have never taken government money for personal use."

The President explained that the facility is purposed as a regional peace and diplomacy center. He aligned its objective with Liberia's strategic role within the Mano River Union (MRU), a crucial sub-regional bloc encompassing Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Côte d'Ivoire. Boakai argued that the project underscores Liberia's aspiration to reposition itself as a neutral mediator amidst escalating political and security pressures across West Africa.

The controversy first surfaced in early September following the release of aerial images by civil society advocate Eddie D. Jarwolo, who leads the governance watchdog NAYMOTE-Liberia. These images depicted a sprawling, multi-structure compound rapidly taking shape in a remote area of Foya, President Boakai's hometown, located near Liberia's northern border. The sheer scale of the construction, coupled with the visible presence of state security and a complete absence of any public procurement records, immediately triggered widespread alarm.

Despite the apparent substantial cost of the project, no public budget allocation, legislative approval, donor agreement, or procurement notice has been publicly identified. Public concern further intensified as senior government officials provided conflicting explanations. The Ministry of Information initially claimed the project was funded through the MRU, a statement later retracted by Deputy Information Minister Daniel Sando. Subsequently, Presidential Press Secretary Kula Nyei Fofana acknowledged her lack of information regarding the project's authorization or financing.

President Boakai's admission that the project initially escaped his attention is considered highly unusual for a sitting head of state by governance experts. These specialists highlight that a project of such magnitude, strategically located in the president's hometown, guarded by state security forces, and executed under a veil of secrecy, would typically necessitate clear presidential authorization or, at minimum, formal executive awareness.

The Foya project has disturbingly echoed past controversies involving unexplained construction projects under the previous administration of former President George Manneh Weah. His tenure faced sustained criticism over lavish private developments that emerged without transparent disclosure of funding sources. Such episodes significantly eroded public trust and became symbolic of weak accountability in a nation still grappling with the aftermath of civil war, Ebola epidemics, and prolonged economic fragility. Boakai, who served as a former vice president and campaigned vigorously on a platform of integrity and reform, has sought to differentiate his administration from these precedents. However, civil society groups emphasize that genuine credibility is established not through assurances alone, but through rigorous documentation and transparent processes.

The government maintains that the Foya facility is designed to host high-level regional meetings and bolster conflict-prevention diplomacy, citing ongoing tensions such as the Guinea-Sierra Leone border dispute and the broader political instability prevalent across parts of the Sahel and coastal West Africa. Boakai has drawn parallels between this project and other planned infrastructure initiatives elsewhere in Liberia, including a proposed conference center in central Liberia, framing them as integral components of a wider decentralization strategy. Nevertheless, local journalists in Lofa County report encountering restricted access to the site, heavy security presence, and a notable lack of detailed briefings even for county officials. Furthermore, civil society leaders within the region assert that they have not been consulted regarding the project and express concerns about potential political repercussions for speaking out publicly.