The President of the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has released his first nomination in government.
In a release issued by the Office of the President on January 22, 2024, President Boakai named Boima S. Kamara as Minister of Finance and Development Planning; Sylvester M. Grigsby, Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Atty. Samuel Kofi Woods, National Security Advisor; Gregory Coleman, Inspector General of the Liberia National Police (LNP); and Same Gaye, Director of the Executive Protective Service (EPS).
All the names released by the President’s office were active players during the administration of former President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, when Ambassador Boakai served as Vice President.
Boakai’s Minister of Finance, Boima Kamara, served in the same capacity during the Sirleaf administration from 2016 to 2018. He has been called by President Boakai, again, to serve in the same capacity.
Sylvester M. Grigsby, President Boakai’s nominee for the position of Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, first served in the Sirleaf administration as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and later as Minister of State without Portfolio.
Atty. Samuel Kofi Woods, who Boakai has nominated for the position of National Security Advisor, served the Sirleaf administration as Minister of Public Works.
Gregory Coleman served the Sirleaf administration as Inspector General of the Liberia National Police (LNP). Again, he has been called to serve in the same capacity under the Boakai-Koung administration.
Same Gaye, President Boakai’s nominated Director of EPS, was also Director of EPS during the Sirleaf administration.
However, the nominations have begun to receive mixed reactions in the public glare, with observers questioning its genuineness. The release, as observed by the Hot Pepper, fell short of being signed, even though it was released by a Boakai confidant. Besides, it is customary that the President would nominate the first five ministries according to ranks, which consist of the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Justice, Defense, Finance and Development Planning and Public Works.
Contrarily, the release, which is the first from the office of President Boakai since his ascendency to power, does not carry a signature, and contravenes the customary style of appoint within the Liberian government.