Published: October 17, 2025
CAPITOL HILL, Monrovia — Bomi County Senator and ECOWAS Parliament executive member, Edwin Melvin Snowe has strongly rejected claims that the controversial US$10 million “Presidential Villa” project under construction in Foya, Lofa County, is funded by the Mano River Union (MRU), calling on the government to clarify the project’s true source of financing and ownership to ensure transparency and accountability.
The project, reportedly located in President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s hometown, has drawn public scrutiny and civil society criticism since Eddie D. Jarwolo, Executive Director of Naymote Partners for Democratic Development, questioned its purpose and funding source. Jarwolo described the initiative as a potential misuse of limited national resources, urging full disclosure on the government’s role.
Snowe Questions Contradictory Government Statements
Addressing a Senate plenary on Thursday, October 16, Senator Snowe said government officials have issued conflicting statements about the project’s financing, alternately claiming that it is funded by the MRU or the Liberian government.
“When former President Weah built his complex here, he said it was his private property,” Snowe said. “So we want to know in Foya whether it is for the government, for the Mano River Union, which I know it’s not, or for a private investor. We want to know.”
Snowe, who chairs the Senate Committee on Hydrocarbon, firmly rejected any MRU connection to the project. “The project is far from being associated with any MRU-funded initiative,” he stated.
Senate Urged to Probe Ministries for Answers
The Bomi County lawmaker called on the Senate to summon the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) to explain the project’s funding and ownership.
He further urged the involvement of Senator Prince Moye, Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways, Means, Finance and Budget, and Senator Albert Chie, Chair of the Public Works Committee, to coordinate inquiries with the Executive Branch.
“If it is being funded from the national budget, then Senator Moye or Senator Chie should provide the clarity this body needs,” Snowe said, emphasizing that transparency is critical to sustaining public trust.
“This matter is crucial and glaring,” he added. “It has caught the attention of the entire country and brought the government’s credibility under question.”
Jarwolo Raises Red Flag Over Project’s Legitimacy
The controversy began on September 19, when Eddie D. Jarwolo, the Executive Director for Naymote Partners for Democratic Development, a civil society organization, posted on his Facebook account noting that construction of a US$10 million “Presidential Villa” had commenced in Foya and identified MUSNS Groups Incorporated, led by Joe Mulbah, a close associate of President Boakai, as the construction firm, with Edward Yamba serving as chief engineer.
“Construction started on September 10, 2024,” Jarwolo wrote, noting that state security personnel were already stationed at the site.
He questioned the lack of information about the funding source and the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission’s (PPCC) involvement.
“A factory that would create jobs and economic benefits for the residents of Lofa County could be built for $10 million,” Jarwolo added, questioning further, “What rationale exists for spending such an amount on a Presidential Villa when residents lack basic public services and economic opportunities?”
Officials Offer Conflicting Explanations
In response to Jarwolo’s post, Deputy Information Minister Daniel Sando and Presidential Press Secretary Kula Fofana issued contradictory statements, deepening public confusion about the project’s origin.
Sando claimed the villa was an MRU-funded initiative, citing Foya’s geographic proximity to Guinea and Sierra Leone as justification. “My understanding is that the project is an MRU-funded initiative,” Sando said. “It’s being hosted in Foya, Lofa County, due to the area’s strategic location.”
However, Presidential Press Secretary Fofana contradicted that assertion, saying the Presidential Villa was a national government project, not linked to the MRU.
Public Demands Clarity and Accountability
With the government yet to provide a consistent explanation, Senator Snowe’s intervention has intensified calls for transparency and accountability.
“This is not a political issue. It’s about honesty and accountability to the Liberian people,” Snowe said. He continued by noting, “We cannot afford mixed signals when millions of dollars are at stake.”
Civil society groups and opposition figures have since echoed Snowe’s demand, insisting that the Boakai administration release detailed information on the project’s financing and purpose.
As questions mount, many accustomed to the governance realities of the country say the controversy underscores the broader need for fiscal transparency and public accountability in government spending, particularly on projects perceived to benefit political elites.
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