EXECUTIVE MANSION, MONROVIA — President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has exercised his constitutional authority to grant Executive Clemency to seventy-two eligible inmates across Liberia, describing the action as a demonstration of reconciliation, mercy, and national healing during the holiday season.
The clemency, which takes immediate effect, includes pardons and commutations for inmates who met the established eligibility criteria and demonstrated good behavior and genuine remorse during incarceration. The decision followed a thorough review of recommendations submitted through approved legal and administrative channels within the justice and corrections systems.
President Boakai said the action reflects his Administration’s commitment to balancing justice with compassion, particularly during a season that encourages forgiveness, reflection, and renewed hope for individuals and families.
“This act of clemency is not a negation of justice,” President Boakai said. “Rather, it affirms our belief in rehabilitation, human dignity, and the possibility of reform. As a nation, we must continue to uphold the rule of law while recognizing the power of mercy to restore lives and strengthen families.”
The beneficiaries of the clemency include seventy Liberian nationals and two foreign nationals from the Republic of Guinea. Among them are seventy males and two females, including two juveniles, all previously convicted of non-capital felony offenses.
In selecting the recipients, authorities considered inmates who had served more than fifty percent of their sentences, as well as individuals who had completed their prison terms but remained incarcerated due to outstanding restitution obligations involving relatively small amounts.
Special consideration was also extended to elderly inmates and those suffering from terminal illnesses, in line with humanitarian principles and established legal standards governing executive clemency.
President Boakai emphasized that strict eligibility conditions were applied throughout the process. No inmates convicted of capital offenses or other serious crimes were included, and all beneficiaries demonstrated exemplary conduct while in custody.
The President urged recipients of the clemency to seize the opportunity to rebuild their lives, stressing that the privilege carries a responsibility to respect the law and contribute positively to their communities and the nation at large.
He further reaffirmed his Administration’s commitment to reforming the justice and corrections systems, focusing on strengthening rehabilitation programs, reducing recidivism, and promoting fairness and efficiency in the administration of justice. President Boakai also called on all Liberians to embrace unity, forgiveness, and shared responsibility as the country continues its journey toward lasting peace and inclusive development.
