By Stephanie M. Duncan
MONROVIAPresident Joseph Nyuma Boakai has provided a little bit of tutorial for his cabinet ministers to understand and uphold Liberia’s public procurement system, stressing that transparent and competitive procurement is essential to accountability and equal participation in government.
Speaking at the opening of a Cabinet meeting on Thursday, August 27, 2026, President Boakai said procurement regulations are necessary to ensure that public resources are protected and that citizens and businesses have a fair opportunity to provide goods and services to government.
He said the procurement process helps promote accountability and fair competition while preventing perceptions that government contracts are awarded based on personal relationships.
“Procurement, in the sense of procurement, helps with accountability. It helps with fair play in the market,” Boakai said, emphasizing that the system also provides citizens with opportunities to participate in national development by supplying goods and services to government.
According to the President, participation in government should not be limited to holding public office, but should also include opportunities for citizens and businesses to contribute through the provision of goods and services.
He noted that a transparent procurement system allows qualified individuals and businesses to compete without having to rely on personal connections.
Boakai acknowledged that government officials and citizens may sometimes become frustrated by the procedures involved in purchasing goods and services, but stressed that such processes are necessary to safeguard public resources.
“Sometimes people get frustrated about all what you have to go through to buy this and buy that,” he said, adding that without proper procurement systems and their effective implementation, government resources could be compromised.
The President also commended the Director General of the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission for bringing issues requiring Cabinet’s attention to the meeting.
He said the meeting would also provide an opportunity for Cabinet members to receive updates on developments that had occurred during the week, including matters that had attracted public attention.
Boakai further called on government officials to remain committed to the national interest, saying the administration’s responsibility is to protect Liberia and ensure that the country’s resources are managed in the interest of its people.
He stressed that his administration is not driven by a desire to target individuals, but by the responsibility to enforce the right policies and uphold the law.
The President said his commitment to governance is rooted in what he described as the “work of God” and the responsibility assigned to those in leadership.
He also thanked members of his Cabinet and government officials for their work, noting that public servants often receive criticism when mistakes occur but do not always receive recognition for their efforts.
Boakai said leaders must pay attention to the work being done by public servants and recognize their contributions to the country.
The Cabinet meeting was subsequently declared officially open, with discussions expected to focus on procurement and concessions, as well as other matters on the government’s current agenda.
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