Published: September 11, 2026
MONROVIA — President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr. has removed his defense and commerce ministers and installed acting replacements at both ministries, putting former Justice Minister Oswald Natu Tweh in charge of national defense, and has suspended a deputy gender minister for 60 days without pay.
Defense Minister Geraldine J. George and Commerce and Industry Minister Magdalene E. Dagoseh are both to be reassigned, according to the Executive Mansion, which did not say to what posts.
Tweh will take over National Defense in an acting capacity. Stephen Marka Yekeson Jr. becomes acting minister of commerce and industry.
Boakai also suspended Frederick S. Cooper, deputy minister for administration at the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, for 60 days without pay. The Executive Mansion said the suspension is for “acts incompatible with his status as a public official,” and did not describe the conduct at issue.
In his communication to Cooper, the Executive Mansion said, Boakai “cautioned all appointed officials to conduct themselves, both in discharging their duties and otherwise, in a manner that reflects the standards and values of his Administration.” It said he “reiterated that public office is a position of trust and that officials will be held accountable for conduct that undermines the integrity of the Government or brings public service into disrepute.”
In the same announcement, Boakai named Christopher Ben Bailey acting superintendent of Grand Gedeh County and Mike Khailelu B. Jabateh acting deputy director general for publicity at the National Food Assistance Agency. He appointed Daniel Frank Gould II to the Board of Commissioners of the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission, subject to Senate confirmation.
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