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The Government of Liberia has responded to growing public debate surrounding the controversial presidential facility under construction in Foya District, Lofa County, clarifying that the project is not a private presidential villa but a national and regional peace initiative.
Speaking on the matter, Deputy Information Minister Daniel Sando said the project, officially known as the Mano River Union Center for Regional Peace and Development, is a government-owned asset designed to serve Liberia and the wider sub-region.
Sando explained that the facility is intended to host high-level sub-regional, regional, and international meetings focused on peacebuilding, mediation, conflict resolution, and economic integration within the Mano River Union and beyond.
According to the government, the center includes a 500-seat conference hall and nine secure accommodation units for visiting dignitaries and officials, and is situated on approximately seven acres of land in Foya, a strategic border district linking Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea.
The spokesperson dismissed claims circulating on social and traditional media that the site is being developed as a private presidential residence, stressing that it is public property with national, regional, and global significance.
He noted that Liberia’s historical role as the oldest independent nation in the Mano River Basin and its growing responsibilities on regional and global platforms—including the United Nations Security Council—require the country to have secure and suitable facilities to host sensitive diplomatic engagements.
Addressing why Foya was selected, Sando said the district’s geographic position at the crossroads of three MRU founding states makes it an ideal neutral location for cross-border peace and security discussions, away from densely populated urban centers.
He also pointed to the long-standing involvement of Foya’s residents in regional peace initiatives through structures such as the Makona River Organization, which has promoted dialogue among border communities for years.
On concerns about secrecy surrounding the project, the government said confidentiality was necessary due to the sensitive security nature of the facility, adding that releasing design layouts and security details during construction could pose serious risks.
The deputy minister further criticized the use of unauthorized drone footage of the site, describing it as a security breach that validates the government’s cautious approach to information disclosure.
Regarding funding, the government disclosed that the project is valued at approximately US$6.1 million and is financed through a mix of national, regional, and international contributions, as well as support from private individuals and institutions.
Sando confirmed that President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, along with senior government and security officials, is expected to visit the project site later this December as part of routine inspections of national development projects.
The government said the regional launch of the center will take place after its completion in 2026, with participation expected from MRU member states and other international partners.
Officials insist the project reinforces Liberia’s image as a regional peace broker and underscores its commitment to diplomacy, stability, and cross-border cooperation in West Africa.
