On Monday, October 27, 2025 President Joseph N. Boakai made a decision to dismiss his Minister of Mines and Energy, Wilmot Paye, and replace him with former Nimba County Representative, R. Matenokay Tingban. The effort is said to be in an effort to strengthen governance, improve institutional performance, and ensure accountability and efficiency within the public sector. However, the President’s action has met mixed reaction, raising concerns about shielding corruption.
Over the last several months the Ministry of Mines and Energy has stood out as one of the few institutions of government that operated without major controversy, scandal, or public accusation of corruption. Under Minister Paye, the ministry maintained stability, order, and integrity, ensuring that mining companies operated within the confines of their licenses and obligations to the state.
However, President Boakai, with the power to appoint and dismiss at will, dismissed Paye without any explanation.
Barely a day after his dismissal, comments attributed to his wife, Comfort Boog-Paye, went viral on social media for praising her husband for choosing integrity over wealth.
Boog-Paye wrote, “”Thank you for making me a very proud wife! Your children are equally very proud of you. Of course, your God is happy to have a child like you. Choosing integrity over wealth is the best choice any true Christian can make. You are a great statesman so posterity will judge you kindly. Thank you for job well done Honey!”
Since then, there have been public concerns over whether Paye’s dismissal is actually a move to strengthening governance or about shielding corruption.
Observers say it is both surprising and troubling that Minister Paye has been summarily dismissed under the often quoted pretext of “the prerogative of the President”. They say while no one disputes the President’s Constitutional right to hire and dismiss officials, that right must be exercised with respect for the public’s right to know. “Transparency and accountability are not optional in a democracy; they are obligations owed to the Liberian people,” they noted.
They argued that the absence of clarity invites speculation and damages reputations built over years of service. “When men and women of integrity are dismissed without reason, their family names and professional records are unfairly subjected to public suspicion. This is neither fair nor consistent with the principles of good governance that this administration has repeatedly promised,” they added.
They called on the President to provide a full and honest explanation to the nation, as the UP government brags of valuing openness and integrity. “The Liberian people deserve to know why a minister who has kept his institution free of scandal, conflict, and controversy was dismissed. Silence breeds distrust, and distrust erodes the very foundation of public confidence in government,” they maintained.
