Published: June 13, 2025
MONROVIA, Liberia — President Joseph Boakai has ordered all public officials to sign performance bonds or risk losing their jobs if they fail to meet set targets—a bold move aimed at increasing accountability and restoring public trust in government.
“Public office is not a place of privilege, but of service,” Boakai declared Thursday. “Those unwilling or unable to meet targets will be shown the door.”
The announcement was made during the 2025 Performance Contracts and Recognition Ceremony, held at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town. The directive is part of Boakai’s ongoing push for performance-based leadership across all government institutions.
Under the new policy, each official will be evaluated based on measurable goals outlined in their ministry’s or agency’s performance contract. Boakai said the system is intended to combat what he called “chronic underperformance and complacency” within the public sector.
Top Performers Recognized
At the event, the government also honored 15 ministries, agencies and institutions for outstanding performance in the 2024/2025 fiscal year. Recognition was based on metrics such as service delivery, operational efficiency, innovation and alignment with national development priorities.
Three institutions emerged as top performers:
- First Place: Liberia Agriculture Regulatory Authority
- Second Place: Jackson F. Doe Memorial Regional Hospital
- Third Place: Ministry of National Defense
Other agencies recognized included the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Public Works, and State for Presidential Affairs; the Liberia Petroleum Refinery Company; the National Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Commission; and the Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission.
Also honored were the Liberia Institute for Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS), the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission, the Liberia Airport Authority, and the Ministries of Post and Telecommunications and National Defense.
Noticeable Absentees
Conspicuously absent from the list of awardees were several high-profile entities, including the Liberia Electricity Corporation, the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation, the National Transit Authority and the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority.
While officials did not offer specifics on why these agencies were excluded, analysts say the omissions underscore the administration’s growing focus on performance accountability.
Boakai’s announcement marks one of the administration’s most aggressive moves yet to enforce institutional discipline and results-oriented governance.
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