MONROVIA – Former Minister of Mines and Energy Wilmot J.M. Paye has spoken publicly for the first time since his dismissal by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, delivering an emotional and metaphor-laden farewell address that has quickly become the subject of national discussion.
Paye, who was replaced on Monday, October 27, 2025, by former Nimba County District #9 Representative R. Matenokay Tingban, pending Senate confirmation, addressed employees of the Ministry on Tuesday, October 28, in the main conference room. His message mixed gratitude, reflection, and a powerful metaphor about the realities of public office that drew rare emotional reactions from staff.
In one of the most striking lines of his farewell message, Paye declared, “Working in government is like borrowing someone’s coat. The owner can take it back at any time, without your consent, even while you’re walking down the street. That’s why, when you borrow a coat, wear a T-shirt underneath. If the owner suddenly asks for it back, you won’t be left naked.” The former minister said this with a blend of humor and resignation, capturing the uncertainty that often accompanies public leadership.
Paye also emphasized that his tenure began under difficult circumstances, noting that the Ministry of Mines and Energy was one of the least decentralized public institutions in Liberia. He recounted how, despite limited resources, his team embarked on the ambitious task of establishing county offices for the first time in years. According to him, 30 geologists and mining engineers, many with advanced degrees, were recruited and deployed to strengthen local oversight and technical capacity.
Some of these professionals, he noted, were in the room as he spoke. Paye expressed pride that they chose public service at a time when many Liberian professionals were leaving due to low salaries and lack of incentives.
The outgoing minister detailed several milestones achieved under his leadership. He said that many county offices had been completed or secured through collaboration with the General Services Agency (GSA), and that the 2026 national budget already makes provision for logistics, including vehicles and additional personnel, to fully operationalize all 15 county offices.
Paye further highlighted the Ministry’s growing engagement with international partners, including China. He cited a landmark collaboration with the China Geological Survey, which resulted in the Liberia Mineral Resource Survey, a project that he said revealed Liberia possesses far more than the traditional deposits of gold, diamonds, and iron ore. According to Paye, Liberia is now recognized as a “center of attraction” for critical and strategic minerals highly sought after worldwide.
He described his recent participation in the World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington, D.C., where global discussions were dominated by minerals and energy. These engagements, he argued, affirm Liberia’s rising profile in the extractive sector.
On budgeting, he said the Ministry stepped in at a time when its allocation was “disappointing and demoralizing,” recalling that the budget hovered around US$3.8 million when he took office. He noted an increase to just above US$4 million this year, crediting teamwork, patriotism, and shared purpose for the improvement. Paye said the message his team sought to send was clear: transformation is possible, even with limited resources.
The farewell event turned deeply emotional as Paye reflected on the road ahead for the Ministry. “I am confident that as I leave this Ministry, 2025 for the Ministry of Mines and Energy is going to be better than ever,” he said, adding that 2026 would further build on that progress as investments and county-level operations expand.
Paye’s emotional tone extended beyond institutional reflections. In a public message, his wife, Mrs. Comfort Boog-Paye, praised his moral stance, writing, “Thank you for making me a very proud wife! Your children are equally proud of you… Choosing integrity over wealth is the best decision any true Christian can make. You are a great statesman, and posterity will judge you kindly.”
The former minister expressed no bitterness over his dismissal, instead embracing the metaphor that has now defined his departure. “Government is like borrowing a coat,” he repeated, underscoring the need for personal preparedness and humility in public service.
His remarks come amid ongoing speculation about the real reasons behind his replacement, although the Executive Mansion has offered no further detail beyond the announcement delivered by Presidential Press Secretary Atty. Kula Bonah Nyei Fofana.
As Paye exits the stage after a relatively short but eventful tenure, his emotional farewell and his now-famous “coat” analogy appear to have set the tone for reflection within Liberia’s political and public-service circles.
