Monrovia, Liberia – The controversial housing project in Foya, Lofa County, has been strongly refuted by President Joseph N. Boakai as a private home or personal retirement. Rather, he has claimed that the Mano River Union, which serves Liberia and the wider sub-region, supports the facility as a center for diplomacy and peace.
In a forthright response to mounting public speculation, the President said on Friday, December 19, 2025, in a radio appearance on the Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS) that he has never used public monies for personal purposes and has no intention of doing so. He underlined that he already owns a private home, which he plans to renovate for retirement.
“I don’t need a retirement home built for me by the public. I have a house there (Lofa). I’m going to rebuild it myself. There is nothing at that project site in my name,” Boakai disclosed.
With assistance from Côte d’Ivoire, the Liberian leader clarified that the goal of the Foya initiative is to establish Liberia as a neutral venue for private, high-level peace negotiations, especially within the Mano River Union, which consists of Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. He claims that the project will enable chiefs of state to meet covertly to discuss persistent regional concerns, such as unsolved border conflicts and political unpredictability in nearby nations.
“Liberia must position itself as a peacemaker in this sub-region. Presidents can drive or fly into Foya, meet privately, and resolve crises without unnecessary publicity,” he stated.
According to Boakai, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Côte d’Ivoire are partners in the project, which is funded jointly within the Mano River Union framework rather than exclusively by Liberia. He revealed that funding had already started even before he had a complete briefing, pointing out that the planners purposefully did not include him at first to avoid giving the impression that he had a personal stake.
“It’s not a Joseph Boakai project. It’s a national and regional peace-building project,” Boakai emphasized.
The President also used the occasion to highlight similar decentralized development projects across the country, including plans for a conference center in Bong County, a tourism hub in Cape Mount County, an educational center in Bomi, and an emergency medical center in Gbarpolu County, in order to highlight his administration’s objective of equitably distributing infrastructure. President Boakai insisted that transparency will prevail in the present public debate and urged Liberians to assess the initiative on its objectives rather than rumors.
“Liberia is the oldest republic in Africa. We have a responsibility, first to our sub-region, then to the world,” he added.
The President went on to reiterate that he plans to peacefully retire to his own house, not to a facility supported by the state, after his term in office is over.
Photo credit: Executive Mansion
