Liberia: Liberia Lacks Political Will, Not Capacity-Cental

What the report says

Anderson D. Miamen, executive director of Liberia’s Center for Transparency and Accountability (CENTAL), argued that the country’s governance and development problems stem more from weak political will, corruption and conflicts of interest than from a shortage of technical expertise. His remarks, reported by The New Dawn and distributed by AllAfrica, were made in Monrovia on October 12, 2026.

Miamen said criticism that Liberia’s poorly negotiated concession agreements and wider underdevelopment are mainly due to limited capacity is no longer convincing, pointing to years of training efforts and the number of Liberians educated at home and abroad. He said persistent failures in sectors such as mining, agriculture and forestry reflect deeper accountability problems, including regulatory capture and officials placing private interests ahead of public duties.

He also alleged that some lawmakers and influential figures have business ties with mining companies that could undermine oversight and the negotiation of public contracts. In addition, he raised concerns about companies operating beyond their licenses and about weak enforcement of taxes and community protections. These claims were presented as his views in a statement, not as findings of an investigation.

Miamen urged President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s government to enforce existing laws more firmly, curb conflicts of interest and improve accountability in state institutions, including state-owned enterprises. His comments highlight an ongoing debate in Liberia over whether the main barrier to better concessions and development is lack of expertise or a failure to apply governance rules consistently.