Criticism Mounts as Liberian President Boakai Misses AfDB Annual Meeting

President Joseph Boakai Faces Criticism for Missing African Development Bank Annual Meeting

Monrovia — President Joseph Boakai has come under fire from the public for his absence at this year’s African Development Bank (AfDB) annual meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, hosted by Kenya’s President William Ruto.

The AfDB is celebrating its 60th anniversary at this year’s annual meetings, making it a significant milestone for the institution. As one of the founding members of the AfDB, Liberia was expected to play an active role in the event.

Despite the AfDB’s announcement that President Boakai would be in attendance, FrontPage Africa contributors confirmed that he was not present at the meeting. Instead, the Liberian Government is being represented by top cabinet officials, including Finance and Development Planning Minister Boima Kamara and Deputy Minister of State without Portfolio Mamaka Bility.

A statement released by the Ministry of Information cited “pressing national engagements” as the reason for President Boakai’s absence from the event. However, this explanation has not appeased critics who are questioning the President’s repeated absence from major regional gatherings.

Steven James, a student at the University of Liberia, expressed concern over President Boakai’s absence, stating that these events are crucial for forming alliances, seeking investment opportunities, and gaining support from counterparts. Francis Kollie echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the importance of the President’s presence at international conferences to represent Liberia effectively.

This is not the first time President Boakai has skipped important regional meetings. Earlier this year, he missed the African Union Summit and the ECOWAS Summit, raising further questions about his commitment to representing Liberia on the international stage.

While President Boakai has made trips to the United States, his absence from key regional and continental events continues to raise eyebrows among the public. Critics argue that his repeated no-shows may indicate a lack of capacity or fitness to represent Liberia effectively on the global stage.

As the public scrutiny intensifies, President Boakai may face increasing pressure to prioritize his international engagements and demonstrate a stronger commitment to representing Liberia at important regional and continental gatherings.