Monrovia – June 26, 2025
In a dramatic turn of events that underscores President Joseph Boakai’s declared war on corruption, three prominent officials who once served under the former CDC government: Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, Mary T. Broh, and Henry O. Williams were sent to the notorious Monrovia Central Prison, widely known as South Beach, following a court order from Criminal Court “C”.
Kemayah, Liberia’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs; Broh, the long-time Director General of the General Services Agency (GSA); and Williams, the former Executive Director of the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), were arrested Tuesday after the government’s Asset Recovery Task Force filed a petition linking them to the alleged diversion of humanitarian food aid.
According to the petition, the three are suspected of conspiring to misappropriate over 29,000 bags of rice donated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in April 2023 through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief). The rice, intended to support vulnerable Liberians during tough economic times, reportedly never reached the intended beneficiaries. The total estimated value of the missing consignment is over US$425,000.
The arrests follow a brief hearing where the court ruled in favor of the government’s motion to have the accused detained while investigations continue. The move is part of a wider effort by the Boakai-led administration to clean up government and restore public confidence in state institutions.
Boakai at the same time suspended the Head of the Bureau of State Enterprises Arthur Massaquoi, LACRA Head and Deputy, MCSS Head all of his current administration for corruption and other malfeasances.
Not Just the Past Regime: Boakai Taking Aim at His Own Too
While many have welcomed the prosecution of former CDC-era officials, President Boakai has also shown that his anti-corruption campaign is not selective. In April this year, the President suspended several of his own appointees including top Ministry of Health and Commerce officials over allegations of bribery and procurement fraud.
Among them was the Deputy Minister for Administration at the Ministry of Health, who was accused of influencing a medical supply deal for personal gain. In a separate case, a senior official at the Ministry of Commerce was asked to step aside pending an investigation into irregular import licensing practices.
President Boakai, during his 2024 inaugural address, pledged zero tolerance for corruption “whether past or present.” Many saw it as political rhetoric but the wave of arrests and dismissals is beginning to paint a picture of an administration eager to make an example of those who have misused public trust.
A Broader Mandate: Asset Recovery in Full Gear
The Asset Recovery Task Force restructured by the Boakai government earlier this year—has been spearheading investigations into questionable contracts, misused public assets, and unaccounted donor contributions during the past five years. With the backing of international partners and increased funding from the national budget, the Task Force has begun seizing properties and freezing accounts linked to former government actors.
Observers say Thursday’s arrests may be just the beginning. Sources close to the Task Force hinted at ongoing probes into several multi-million-dollar procurement deals carried out under the previous government, including questionable COVID-19 emergency spending and unauthorized foreign contracts.
Public Reactions Mixed
The arrest of well-known figures like Mary Broh often hailed for her iron-handed style of public sanitation enforcement and Kemayah, who represented Liberia abroad, has stirred mixed feelings among Liberians. While some applaud the government’s strong hand, others are warning against the risk of politicizing justice.
Still, the Boakai administration appears resolute. A senior official at the Ministry of Justice noted: “This is not about revenge. This is about restoring dignity to governance and sending a clear message that public service is not a license to steal.”
As the case heads to full trial, all eyes are on the judiciary to see whether justice will be served—or delayed.
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