MONROVIA, LIBERIA – In a controversial move, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) has issued a directive requiring its employees to abandon their duties and assemble at the Roberts International Airport to welcome President Joseph N. Boakai, Sr., upon his return from official duties. The directive was outlined in a Memorandum issued on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, by Deputy Minister for Administration and Acting Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon. Samuel F. Brown.
The Memorandum, addressed to all Deputy Ministers, Assistant Ministers, Program Heads, Directors, and General Staff, called on all employees to be present at the airport on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, by 12 noon to give President Boakai a “rousing welcome.” To facilitate this, the Ministry arranged for buses to transport employees to and from the airport, with a pickup point at the Ministry’s Central Office.
The directive has sparked criticism, not only from civil society but also from the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs, and Tourism (MICAT), which swiftly refuted the memo. Acting Minister of Information, Johnny S. Tarkpah, issued a statement on behalf of the government, denying any instruction to public workers to leave their posts for the President’s welcome. “The Government of Liberia denies and disclaims information circulating on social media that it has instructed workers at the Internal Affairs Ministry to abandon work tomorrow,” the statement read.
The Information Ministry clarified that President Boakai would arrive in Liberia on the evening of September 11 and proceed directly to the Effort Baptist Church in Paynesville for a brief thanksgiving service. The Ministry emphasized that attendance at the service was “purely voluntary” and outside of regular working hours, encouraging all government employees to remain at their posts and continue with their duties.
This confusion between government ministries has stirred reactions among civil society actors, with prominent figures publicly denouncing the MIA directive. Activist Martin K. N. Kollie took to social media, criticizing the move as a return to the “old ways” of sycophancy and bootlicking. “We criticized ex-President George Weah for this. Why should civil servants abandon their work to welcome President Boakai? This is business as usual,” Kollie posted on Facebook, urging the Boakai administration to avoid such missteps.
Anderson D. Miamen, another critic, echoed Kollie’s sentiment, questioning the motives behind the directive. “What is the Minister of Internal Affairs trying to prove? Loyalty to President Boakai? This is highly unfortunate!” Miamen remarked, expressing disappointment over the unnecessary disruption of government functions.
As the backlash grows, questions linger about how the Ministry of Internal Affairs will respond to both the government’s formal denial and the public outcry. The situation raises broader concerns about the balance between respect for public office and the practical functioning of government institutions under the Boakai administration.
