Capitol Hill, Monrovia – Liberia’s long-standing reliance on rented public offices has drastically changed as President Joseph N. Boakai has started construction on a new Ministry of Justice complex, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to creating long-term state institutions that uphold stability and national dignity.
Speaking on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at a ceremony that was attended by lawmakers, cabinet ministers, clergy, security personnel, and members of the media, President Boakai stated that Liberia can no longer operate as a sovereign state while important ministries are housed in privately owned structures that are unsuitable for maintaining records and providing public services.
“For too long, almost every major government institution has been housed in a building owned by somebody else. Public buildings are not temporary structures. They are permanent symbols of the state, built for purpose, built to last,” he added.
Boakai stressed that the long-term worth of public buildings should not be overshadowed by their construction costs, drawing on his own experience as a previous vice president. Additionally, he contended that decades of disregard have led to record loss, inefficiencies, and a lack of institutional continuity brought on by numerous moves from one rented site to another.
The Liberian leader linked Liberia’s predicament with that of more established democracies, pointing out that public buildings in nations like the US and Italy had stood for more than a century, serving generations while maintaining national identity, history, and archives.
The President emphasized that the new Temple of Justice complex will be built especially to fulfill the Ministry of Justice’s operating requirements, including organized offices, safe record-keeping systems, and a comfortable workplace for public employees.
“When you rent a building, you try to force it to become what it was never meant to be. But when you build your own, you design it for its true purpose, and people work better in dignity,” Boakai narrated.
He reassured the public that the project has been funded and that it will be strictly supervised by engineers and technical specialists to guarantee high-quality construction and avoid cutting corners. “This is Liberia’s building. We want the best for Liberia, and there will be no shortcuts.”
The President connected the judicial complex to a larger national strategy that involves investing in youth development through planned football academies in Bong and Montserrado counties, decongesting commercial hubs, and modernizing public markets.
He criticized years of tax leakage that enriched private interests at the expense of future generations and used the opportunity to advocate for more robust preservation of national resources. “We must build Liberia for Liberians. Good schools, strong institutions, quality public buildings, these are what make people believe in their country and stay to build it,” the President added.
