By By: Staff Writer
Monrovia, Liberia – As President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s administration approaches the two-year benchmark, The People News Online has completed its mid-term performance x-raying of senior government officials. Using publicly available sector performance documents, project timelines, and the government’s own AAID agenda, the assessment reveals a mixed tableau of strong performers, silent underachievers, and officials whose actions have sparked public frustration. While the administration promised an era of accountability and efficiency, several ministries appear stuck between ambition and underperformance, leaving Liberians questioning whether some ministers truly deserve the seats they occupy.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Sarah Beysolow Nyanti – Grade A
Minister Nyanti remains one of the administration’s standout performers. Under her tenure, Liberia’s diplomatic presence has sharply improved, attracting renewed attention from global partners and restoring bilateral ties that had grown stagnant. Her leadership helped secure cooperation packages in governance, climate adaptation, and education, while also bringing stability to a ministry long plagued by internal disorder.
Her reforms have reduced administrative chaos, and her consistent international engagements demonstrate visible alignment with the AAID development pillar. Critics argue that not all passport-related delays are resolved, but compared to other sectors, her ministry is one of the few showing sustained upward movement.
Minister of Finance and Development Planning Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan – Grade C
Ngafuan’s score reflects a ministry caught between technical competence and chronic national financial hurdles. While he has strengthened fiscal reporting, improved revenue compliance systems, and increased transparency, many Liberians remain uncertain whether these efforts are translating into real improvements in service delivery.
Budget execution reports show persistent delays that have slowed the rollout of key AAID projects across agriculture, infrastructure, and local development. Revenue projections remain overly optimistic, and some ministries continue to complain about late or incomplete allotments. The People News Online notes that Ngafuan’s reforms look promising on paper but often stall before reaching the ground — a trend that contributed to his average score.
Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection Gbeme Horace Kollie – Grade D
The Ministry of Gender scored one of the lowest ratings due to what The People News Online describes as underwhelming results in critical areas of social protection. Under Minister Gbeme Horace Kollie, gender-based violence cases — particularly rape — continue to surge across the country, with no visible nationwide prevention strategy or improved survivor support framework.
Despite multiple donor-supported programs, safe homes remain under-resourced, response coordination is slow, and community outreach has not expanded to match the rising cases. Public documents show that several gender policy reforms remain frozen in draft form. Although Minister Kollie has been active in speeches and advocacy events, the ministry’s failure to translate rhetoric into measurable protection outcomes significantly influenced the D rating.
Minister of Public Works Roland L. Giddings – Grade C
Minister Giddings’ score reflects solid technical achievements overshadowed by controversial administrative choices. He has overseen improvements in urban road rehabilitation, launched feeder road interventions in rural counties, and restarted several projects abandoned before the current administration.
However, concerns persist regarding selective contract awards and inconsistent procurement transparency. Contractors with little track record have allegedly been allowed to handle major works, raising questions within civil society groups. Additionally, several communities continue to suffer from poor drainage systems — a recurring issue that floods neighborhoods every rainy season. These shortcomings kept his score from rising higher.
Minister of Health Louise M. Kpoto – Grade D
The Ministry of Health continues to face serious internal weaknesses. Hospitals frequently report shortages of essential drugs, and county health facilities operate with limited staff and outdated equipment. Although the ministry has engaged with foreign partners on disease surveillance and system strengthening, these engagements have not translated into improved service delivery.
Public health documents reviewed by The People News Online show delayed implementation of hospital autonomy reforms, stalled plans for supply chain digitization, and insufficient workforce deployment. As preventable illnesses continue to overwhelm local clinics, the ministry struggles to meet AAID development expectations.
Minister of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism Jerolinmek Matthew Piah – Grade B
Minister Piah maintains high visibility and consistently defends the administration’s actions, earning him credit for active public communication. He revived regular briefings, expanded government-media interaction, and pushed ministries to report their activities more transparently.
However, his controversial communication style — at times combative, dismissive, and punctuated by profane jabs at critics — has drawn backlash. Several civil society organizations argue that his approach undermines public trust and contradicts the government’s accountability messaging. Despite this, his effort and output earn him a respectable B.
Minister of Commerce and Industry Magdalene E. Dagoseh – Grade F
The Ministry of Commerce receives the harshest evaluation. Under Minister Dagoseh, the prices of essential commodities have remained unstable, market monitoring has been inconsistent, and consumer protection frameworks have not improved.
Public documents show repeated delays in enforcing trade regulations, weak supervision of importers, and limited progress in promoting local industries. Small businesses complain about slow licensing processes and unclear fee structures. With the cost of living rising sharply in urban and rural areas alike, the ministry’s performance scored well below expectations.
The People News Online is preparing the second installment of this national performance review, covering additional ministries, state-owned enterprises, and the Legislature — an assessment expected to reveal even sharper contrasts within the Boakai administration.
