The Liberian government’s reversal of its own account of a multimillion-dollar development in Foya, Lofa County has intensified controversy over the project’s ownership, funding and legal basis, with opposition figures and civil society groups calling for an immediate, transparent investigation.
In a government statement, the structure — previously described by some officials as funded and owned by the Mano River Union (MRU) was rebranded as the “Mano River Union Center for Regional Peace and Development.
According to the Ministry of Information the palace is government of Liberia initiative, financed by a combination of national, regional, international and private contributions.
The statement estimated total investment at approximately $6.1 million and described the facility as a public asset comprising a 500-seat conference hall and nine secure units for visiting dignitaries on roughly seven acres in Foya.
The government defended the secrecy around the site’s construction as a security measure, saying restricted disclosure was necessary to protect blueprints and sensitive security layouts while the facility — intended to host high-level regional and international meetings was under construction.
Officials also said a regional launch would follow completion in 2026 and that presidential and senior officials would inspect the site this December.
But the volte-face has done little to quiet critics. The MRU has publicly denied funding or ownership of the site, and civil society and opposition politicians say the government’s shifting explanations underscore an absence of transparency and potential breaches of public finance and procurement law.
“The facts surrounding the Foya project do not align with the government’s narrative,” said Wantoe Teah Wantoe of the opposition Coalition for Democratic Change. Wantoe argued that establishing a national institution and approving public spending are legislative functions under Article 34(d) and (f) of the 1986 Constitution and said there is no record of any legislative act creating the MRU center or authorizing related expenditures.
Civil society groups have earlier raised similar concerns. Eddie Jawolo, executive director of Naymote Partners for Democratic Development, and Anderson Miamen of the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) have pressed for disclosure of funding sources, contractor selection and project specifications.
CENTAL earlier said it found no line item for the project in Liberia’s 2024 or 2025 approved national budgets and urged the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission and the Asset Recovery Task Force to investigate.
Critics cite potential violations of the Public Financial Management Act — including Sections 17, 18, 37 and 48 on budgeting, disclosure and audit obligations — and question whether procurement rules under the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission were followed.
Reports circulating in media and among activists allege the contractor is MUSNS Groups Incorporated, linked to a presidential ally; the government has not produced procurement documents in response to requests.
The controversy erupted after drone footage of the remote site circulated online and after earlier statements by a deputy minister denying a presidential project and suggesting the works might be linked to a planned MRU conference. The MRU’s denial and the presence of state security at the site fueled public concern.
Government spokesmen have not provided documentary evidence of donor agreements, budget lines or procurement records as requested by watchdogs. Critics say confidentiality for security is limited to layout and operational details and should not extend to financial governance.
The episode threatens to undermine public confidence in the Boakai administration’s pledges of transparency and rule-of-law governance. Whether formal oversight bodies will secure and publish the necessary documents remains a central question for Liberia’s anti-corruption and accountability institutions.
