Published: September 14, 2026
MONROVIA — Former Justice Ministry aide Siaffa Bahn Kemokai says he expects acting Defense Minister Oswald Tweh to prioritize soldiers’ housing and welfare, citing overcrowded barracks and the condition of residential facilities among the issues facing the ministry.
Kemokai, who served as Tweh’s special assistant at the Ministry of Justice, welcomed his appointment and said the former justice minister’s experience in security coordination and institutional reform would serve him in the new role.
President Joseph Boakai announced Tweh’s appointment Friday, Sept. 11. The Executive Mansion said outgoing Defense Minister Geraldine George would be reassigned.
In a statement following the appointment, Kemokai expressed confidence that Tweh would address living conditions and shared services at military barracks while pursuing modernization of the Armed Forces of Liberia.
“The Liberian people can rest assured that the welfare of men and women in uniform will feature high on your priority list, and the modernization of the Armed Forces will be a collective obsession of both the civilian and military leadership of the Ministry of Defense,” Kemokai said.
He said his assessment was based on his experience working with Tweh and other members of the Justice Ministry team, including long hours spent on administrative and policy assignments.
“No task was too small for you as you grounded yourself in the granular assignments to get the work done,” he said.
Kemokai credited Tweh with expanding the ministry’s work on justice-sector reforms, border protection and security coordination. Among the initiatives he cited were new visa-on-arrival platforms, which he said received support from the African Development Bank.
He also credited Tweh with establishing what he described as the ministry’s first Gender and Social Inclusion Unit. Kemokai said the unit helped incorporate human rights and gender considerations into the ministry’s policies, particularly its response to abuses affecting women and girls.
He recalled Tweh’s supervision of a national joint security retreat that brought security and law enforcement institutions together to assess threats, discuss the national security strategy and improve coordination.
Kemokai thanked Boakai for retaining Tweh in government and said he expected the new acting minister to strengthen staff morale and cooperation between civilian and military leaders.
“I am confident you will rally the troops to deliver at pace and speed for the country because you believe that leadership shines brightest when it carries people along with it,” he said.
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