President Joseph Nyuma Boakai commissioned a new cadre of Liberians into positions of national responsibility, issuing a stern reminder that public office is not a privilege but a sacred trust.
The appointees, ranging from leaders of state-owned enterprises to assistant ministers, superintendents, and commissioners, were told in no uncertain terms that their authority belongs to the Liberian people and must be exercised with integrity, humility, and accountability.
“Appointment to public office is not a reward. It is not an entitlement. And it certainly is not a license to exercise power for personal benefit,” President Boakai declared. “Public office is a public trust. The authority you receive today belongs ultimately to the Liberian people. You are only its temporary custodian.”
Boakai emphasized that Liberia’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development cannot remain a mere government blueprint. He insisted that citizens are impatient for tangible progress and deserve results they can “see, feel, and experience.”
“Our people have heard enough explanations about why things cannot be done. They want leaders who will find ways to get things done,” he said, warning officials against excuses and urging them to set measurable goals and judge success by the impact on ordinary lives.
The President issued pointed directives to several institutions: State-Owned Enterprises: He demanded professional management, financial responsibility, and transparency, cautioning against nepotism and waste, National Elections Commission: He underscored the sensitivity of electoral credibility, urging independence, fairness, and professionalism to earn the confidence of all Liberians, and Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission: He called for impartial enforcement of accountability, stressing that the fight against corruption must be “credible, impartial, and uncompromising.”
Turning to superintendents and local officials, Boakai reminded them that they represent the government in communities far from Monrovia. “For many Liberians outside the capital, their interaction with you is their interaction with this administration,” he said. He urged accessibility, collaboration with traditional leaders, and service to all citizens regardless of political affiliation.
Boakai reiterated that accountability, integrity, and respect for the rule of law remain central to his administration. He cautioned officials not to confuse access to government resources with ownership. “The cars, offices, budgets, equipment, and authority entrusted to you belong to the Republic. Use them accordingly,” he warned.
The President closed with a powerful reminder of the fleeting nature of power: “Positions in government are temporary. None of us will occupy these offices forever. What will remain is the record of what we did while we had the opportunity to serve. So make your time count.”
He urged officials to serve with humility, lead with integrity, and leave their institutions better than they met them. “Think Liberia, Love Liberia, and Build Liberia,” he concluded, invoking his administration’s rallying cry.
