MONROVIA – In a Facebook post on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, Mr. Eddie D. Jarwolo, Executive Director of NAYMOTE, turned up the heat on President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s administration by renewing his calls for transparency surrounding the construction of a so-called Presidential Villa in Foya District, Lofa County. Jarwolo reminded the executive branch of a similar appeal he made on September 29, 2025, warning that the protracted silence over the project smacks of governance failure.
Jarwolo’s resurgence of pressure comes as his earlier concerns remain unresolved. He lamented that, despite raising red flags almost 2 months ago, the government has yet to disclose who is footing the bill for what he alleges is a US$10 million-plus villa, nor has it clarified whether the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC) was involved. “This lack of transparency represents a serious lapse in governance,” Jarwolo wrote, arguing that procedural safeguards appear to have been bypassed.
The NAYMOTE director was blunt in his assessment, warning that “failure to follow established procurement and disclosure procedures is dangerous and creates conditions that could enable financial irregularities, including potential money-laundering schemes.” Equally alarming to him is the inaction of the Legislature, which he says has not launched any investigation despite its oversight mandate. “The silence of opposition political parties on this matter further weakens democratic accountability,” he added.
Jarwolo also revealed that when he sought clarity, he was met not with answers but “insults and threats,” a response he described as deeply troubling. He maintained that such reactions undermine not only civic engagement but also the very right citizens have to demand accountability from their leaders.
He recalled his September 29 post in more detail: the project, he said, is being carried out by MUSNS Groups Incorporated under Joe Mulbah, a close associate of President Boakai, with Edward Yamba serving as Chief Engineer. According to Jarwolo, construction began on September 10, 2024, and the location is now guarded by state security personnel.
Jarwolo questioned the wisdom of investing more than US$10 million in a villa in Foya, Boakai’s hometown, when the area continues to suffer from severe underinvestment in public services. “A factory that would create jobs and economic benefits for the residents of Lofa County could be built for $10 million,” he argued. “What rationale exists for spending over $10 million on a Presidential Villa when the residents are deprived of fundamental public services and economic prospects?”
But government officials have not been quiet in the face of these allegations. Deputy Information Minister Daniel Sando, speaking on Punch FM on September 29, 2025, dismissed Jarwolo’s claims as politically motivated and “evil.” He insisted that the construction belongs to a Mano River Union (MRU) initiative rather than a personal project of the President.
The MRU Secretariat later issued a public denial, calling the accusations “devoid of truth.” MRU Secretary General Ambassador Simeon Moribah insisted that the organization has no plans to build presidential palaces, and that its mission remains focused on trade, security, and human development among member states. The Union urged the public to disregard misleading information, reaffirming its commitment to regional cooperation.
Scrutiny over the matter intensified when Bomi County Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe strongly rejected the government’s MRU-based explanation. Snowe, in a Senate plenary, insisted that the project is neither funded by the MRU nor by some third party, but must be clarified by the Executive. He called on his colleagues to summon key officials, including the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, to account for the funding source.
On the civil society front, transparency advocates have remained vocal. Anderson D. Miamen, Executive Director of the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL), said he remains unconvinced even after several weeks. In a public Facebook post, Miamen lamented that “after one month, no convincing info regarding the necessity of the Foya Project.”
Similarly, the ANC Youth Congress strongly condemned the construction. Alieu Kiadii, Secretary General of the Youth Congress, denounced the project as a betrayal of public trust at a time when young Liberians are grappling with unemployment, poor health care, and failing infrastructure. He too demanded answers, asking who authorized the project, where the money is coming from, and why the PPCC is silent.
The PPCC itself, which by law should regulate such contracts, has not publicly clarified its role in approving or overseeing the villa construction. Critics say the Foya project raises serious questions about whether public procurement commitments are being honored.
For its part, the Senate appears to be moving slowly but steadily. After Senator Snowe’s intervention, the chair of the Senate Public Works Committee said he has contacted the Ministry of Public Works for clarification. But Snowe and other critics maintain that a full investigation into funding, ownership, and public accountability remains necessary.
As the debate rages, many Liberians are left pondering the symbolism of the mansion being built on Boakai’s home soil. For some, it’s a symbol of pride, a monument to a President’s roots. But for others, it is a troubling sign, a luxurious project crowning a region more in need of factories than palaces.
Jarwolo’s renewed call, nearly a year and a half after he first raised concern, underscores the deep frustration among civil society and opposition voices. They argue that unless the Executive Branch comes clean, the project will remain not only a financial mystery but also a glaring failure of accountability.
In the face of mounting public pressure, the administration has little choice; it must either release full disclosure, including contracts, financing documents, and the details of PPCC’s involvement, or risk further eroding trust. The stakes are high, and in a country recovering from years of instability, the clarity, or lack thereof, could define not just this project, but the broader trajectory of governance under President Boakai.
