By Festus Poquie
Four months after his appointment as Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Samuel A. Stevquoah sits at the heart of criticism over the accuracy of data in President Joseph Boakai’s January 26, 2026, State of the Nation Address (SONA).
The administration has admitted to errors in the speech, but critics say the lapse points to negligence in the Executive Mansion’s oversight role—responsibilities that fall squarely within Stevquoah’s remit.
Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah publicly acknowledged and apologized for incorrect road infrastructure figures in the president’s address, saying the overstated numbers resulted from a “misquotation” of data submitted by the Ministry of Public Works. The official correction, Piah said, was intended to set the record straight; opponents contend it did not go far enough.
Former Finance Minister Samuel Tweah called the government’s response “thanks but no thanks,” arguing the published correction still contains misleading language that implies the Rescue Government built an implausible 1,430 km of roads in two years.
“Honesty is required to move our country forward,” Tweah wrote, urging further corrections and transparency about other disputed claims, including the president’s assertion that 70,000 jobs were created.
The job-creation claim triggered a heated debate in the Liberian Senate after Bomi County Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe called for an audit of the President’s speech including full disclosure and documentation of the alleged 70,000 jobs.
Senators were divided over the proper avenue for accountability—whether to summon the Minister of Labor to provide a breakdown or to engage the president directly.
Representative Taa Wongbe and others have praised the administration for admitting the mistake, calling the initial concession a sign of responsible governance.
Still, many lawmakers and civil society actors say the error undermines confidence in the administration’s data-handling processes and demands a comprehensive audit of the figures presented in the SONA.
Stevquoah, appointed in September 2025 and confirmed by the Senate on October 28, 2025, oversees the Executive Mansion’s administrative and operational functions and is responsible for coordinating inter-agency information delivered to the presidency.
Critics argue that, given these duties, Stevquoah “stands at fault” for apparent lapses in quality control and verification of statistics used in the president’s major annual address. The government has not publicly assigned individual culpability.
Observers also point to the August 2025 death of Sylvester Grigsby, Stevquoah’s predecessor, as a factor. Grigsby—who died in Houston on August 9, 2025, at age 74—was widely respected for his meticulous approach to mansion oversight. Several critics say the current lapse highlights a palpable gap in institutional rigor since Grigsby’s passing.
The incident raises broader questions about how statistics are collated, verified and communicated across ministries and agencies before they are incorporated into presidential remarks.
Analysts say institutional safeguards—clear lines of responsibility, cross-checking protocols and public disclosure procedures—must be strengthened to prevent future misinformation that can erode public trust.
Many urge an independent review of the SONA’s data and a transparent explanation of the processes that allowed inaccurate figures into the president’s speech.
Without that review and visible corrective steps, critics warn, the Executive Mansion risks further reputational damage and diminished credibility in national discourse.
