MONROVIA – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has dismissed Wilmot J.M. Paye, Minister of Mines and Energy and former Chairman of the ruling Unity Party, in what appears to be a significant shake-up within the administration’s economic management sector.
The announcement of Paye’s dismissal was made on Monday evening, October 27, 2025, by Presidential Press Secretary Atty. Kula Bonah Nyei Fofana, through an Executive Mansion statement. President Boakai immediately named former Nimba County District #9 Representative R. Matenokay Tingban as Paye’s replacement, pending confirmation by the Liberian Senate.
Although the press release offered no official reason for the decision, multiple Executive Mansion sources revealed that Paye’s dismissal followed internal tensions and policy disagreements, particularly concerning the controversial HPX deal, a multi-million-dollar mining agreement that has sparked heated debate within the Boakai administration.
Sources close to the Executive indicate that Paye had reportedly threatened to resign over what he viewed as “unilateral decisions” affecting the Ministry’s role in oversight and implementation of the HPX arrangement. This dispute, insiders say, generated growing unease between the Minister and senior members of the administration.
Wilmot Paye, who played a pivotal role in President Boakai’s 2023 election victory, was considered one of the Unity Party’s most influential strategists and a strong advocate for transparency and good governance in Liberia’s mining sector. His sudden removal marks a significant shift within the President’s inner circle and raises questions about cohesion within the ruling party.
In addition to Paye’s dismissal, President Boakai also removed Carlos Edison Tingban from his post as Assistant Minister for Mines, signaling what observers describe as an effort to realign leadership within the Ministry and reinforce government control over key mineral governance policies.
Meanwhile, following Paye’s dismissal, his wife, Mrs. Comfort Boog-Paye, expressed pride and admiration for her husband’s principled stance. “Thank you for making me a very proud wife! Your children are equally very proud of you. Of course, your God is happy to have a child like you. Choosing integrity over wealth is the best choice any true Christian can make. You are a great statesman, so posterity will judge you kindly. Thank you for job well done, Honey!” she wrote, highlighting the personal respect and moral standing for which Paye is known.
