MONTROVIA – President Joseph Boachey’s recent purchase of two luxury cars has sparked a heated debate across the country amid the tragic economic struggles facing Liberians. The 2025 Lexus LX 700HR Super Ultra Luxury SUV is rated nearly USD 300,000, and will become a symbol of a perception of hypocrisy and spark public protests, as critics question the president’s commitment to those whom they have vowed to serve.
The controversy unfolded last week when images of luxury cars of the president’s vehicles surfaced and sparked backlash. This purchase is directly inconsistent with Boakai’s previous pledge to avoid extravagant spending.
Just a few months ago, during a local church service, the president declared his commitment to financial restraint and suggested he work to ride a wheelbarrow if it meant saving public resources.
“Our country is at a critical time. If our people need basic amenities like health care, education, good roads, etc., we cannot afford to waste resources in luxury,” Boakai declared in October 2024.
At the time, the president was working on criticism of former Commerce Minister Amin Modad.
However, the purchase of high-end vehicles led to accusations of hypocrisy. Critics argue that the president’s actions are far from the modest government he has promised.
Images of vehicles juxtaposed against Liberia’s economic realities (high unemployment, increased poverty, worsening public services) raised concerns that Boaches were not violating the struggles of ordinary citizens.
The supporters of transparency were one of the most vocal critics. Anderson Myammen, executive director of the Centre for Transparency and Accountability (Cental), expressed concern over the messages the purchase sends to Liberians.
“Leader security should come from people, not from the number of expensive vehicles they own,” Myammen said in a social media post. He emphasized that continuing the practice of spending public money on luxury cars is a setback, especially when basic needs such as healthcare and education are not being met.
For Myammen, the issue is not just about the cost of the car, but also about the value of leadership. “We need to set cutoff points for decisions that will only benefit a little,” he added. His feelings reflect the broader frustration felt by many Liberians who view the purchase as clearly contradicting Boaches’ humility and previous oaths of financial responsibility.
Betrayal of the promise
Opposition voices remained silent on the issue. Jeremiah Pay, executive director of the Opposition Economic Empowerment Movement (MOVEE), quickly condemned the decision. In a statement, Paye condemned the purchase as an act of selfishness when Liberians faced dire economic hardships.
“This decision comes when public school teachers protest the lack of stay, clinics have no essential medicines and farmers lament the lack of support, while citizens are demanding work. The president is rescued, not people,” he denounces Boakai’s management of a deceptive display of wealth.
Martin Corey, an exiled Liberian advocate, repeatedly suffered similar frustration, labeling Boaches’ actions as a betrayal of his 2023 promise. “The president’s actions betray his modest government promises for 2023,” Corey said. He noted that between US$115,000 and US$150,000 Lexus vehicles represent public waste, particularly in light of the economic difficulties faced by many Liberians.
Additionally, Kollie raised concerns about the financial transparency of the vehicle purchase, citing that more than US$1.1 million was allocated to both vehicles on both Boakai and Vice President Koung’s fleets in last fiscal year. He vowed to use the Freedom of Information Act of 2010 to demand full transparency on the issue.
The President’s Advocate: Security for Luxury
Despite the protests, some civil servants and citizens have defended the president’s purchase and framing it as the necessary spending for the safety and security of the head of state.
Mike Jabate, deputy minister of the Ministry of Home Affairs, said the cost of the vehicle was not excessive given the need for president’s protection.
“The president is riding these vehicles for security, not fun,” Jabate argued, claiming that the USD 120,000 vehicle is actually considered cheap in the president’s cars. He added that focusing on vehicles would distract you from more pressing issues, “If speaking can develop the country, Liberia will develop more than Rwanda or Guinea.”
Similarly, Patrick Farley, a former executive of the All-Liberian Party (ALP), defended the president’s decision and emphasized the importance of security. “The president doesn’t choose his car. For security reasons, they have to get into a bulletproof vehicle,” Farley explained. He further said the vehicles purchased would serve President Boaches as well as the current government.
The clash of stories
The controversy over equal vehicles grew even further when the Director of Executive Protection Services (EPS) issued a statement on former President George Weir’s handling of government vehicles.
EPS claimed that Weah was taking a state-run vehicle at the time of departure.
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Former President Weir responded quickly, labeling the EPS claims as “sophomoric” and “basic.” In a statement, the office revealed that Weah has handed over three armored vehicles untouched to the Boakai administration.
The office also pointed out that in 2023, 15 brand new Toyota Land Cruisers were purchased for the presidential convoy.
Regarding the Lexus vehicle mentioned by the EPS, the office revealed that it was privately owned by former President Weir and that all relevant documents, including registration and shipping records, are available for verification.
The office also criticized the EPS for not doing proper due diligence before making such claims, and accused partisan politics of clouding its judgment. The statement emphasized that it should be easy to verify these facts if the EPS prioritizes transparency.
For the former president’s office, EPS’ remarks were an attempt to distract attention from the current administration’s agenda. “For almost a year and a half, the current administration has consistently denounced the former president for its failure,” the statement read. “But the people of Liberia are not fooled. They demand real solutions, not excuses.”
