Published: April 14, 2025
MONROVIA — President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has strongly cautioned against naming presidential development projects after him, emphasizing that he seeks not recognition but meaningful impact in the lives of ordinary Liberians.
Speaking Monday during the official handover of the newly renovated Rehab Market in Paynesville, Boakai said, “I didn’t come to this presidency to be praised. I came to improve the lives of our people.”
The renovation of the market was carried out under the supervision of the Office of the Presidential Special Projects Coordinator, Cytarus G. Dahn, with funding support from the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL), the National Port Authority (NPA) and the National Social Security and Welfare Corporation (NASSCORP).
Marketers, Boakai noted, play a vital role in the country’s economy and deserve dignified spaces to conduct their trade.
“Our marketers deserve better,” he said. “They are making meaningful contributions to the economy and must not be left behind.”
Reaffirming his commitment to tangible transformation, the president said he would no longer dedicate minor projects such as hand pumps.
“After 178 years as a nation, we have gone beyond celebrating hand pumps. I will not be dedicating any more of those,” Boakai told the cheering crowd.
Presidential Special Projects Coordinator Dahn said the market renovation followed an extensive assessment of the facility’s poor condition and the numerous challenges faced by marketers.
“Our team was moved by the deplorable state of the Rehab Market,” she said. “This renovation is a response to those concerns. It is our duty to ensure that Liberians, especially women in the informal sector, have safe and modern spaces to work.”
Dahn said the total cost of the renovation was approximately $98,000. The refurbished facility now features modern bathrooms, administrative offices, standardized market tables and other necessary amenities to enhance the experience of both sellers and buyers.
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