President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has defended his administration’s growing reliance on private jets for official travel, arguing that the practice is often born out of necessity rather than extravagance or misuse of state resources.
Speaking during an interview with BBC Newsday’s Victoria Uwonkunda, President Boakai responded to mounting criticism over his frequent use of chartered flights, a practice he once vehemently opposed during the campaign trail.
“I do not ride private jets just because I want to ride them, but there are occasions when it becomes necessary,” Boakai said. “I can assure you that we are not here to misuse resources for any purpose.”
The President’s remarks come amid growing public backlash, especially from those who recall his pointed criticism of former President George Weah for similar behavior. During the 2023 elections, Weah’s jet-setting lifestyle was weaponized as a symbol of disconnect from ordinary Liberians and played a significant role in his defeat at the ballot box.
Since taking office in January 2024, Boakai has been observed using private jets for high-level international summits and helicopters for domestic trips, particularly to his native Lofa County. His Vice President, Jeremiah Koung, was also seen aboard a private jet in February, only weeks after the Unity Party-led administration assumed power, further fueling allegations of hypocrisy.
In response to the backlash, Vice President Koung clarified that the jet in question was not funded by the Liberian government but was instead offered by a Ghanaian businessman heading to Accra. Koung was en route to Nigeria to represent Liberia at the inauguration of Bayelsa State’s governor.
Meanwhile, Presidential Press Secretary Kula Fofana also jumped to the administration’s defense. She told reporters at the Executive Mansion that private jet travel is often dictated by urgency and logistics rather than luxury.
“Sometimes flying on chartered flights is out of necessity,” Fofana stated. “It is very important for the President to do so when he is traveling to a very important meeting within a relatively short time. I have been with the President where he spent up to eight hours in transit, missing crucial international engagements.”
Fofana also emphasized that not all chartered flights are paid for with public funds, noting that some are covered by international development partners or friendly foreign governments.
Still, critics have accused the Boakai administration of double standards. Many point to the Unity Party’s previous condemnation of similar travel practices by the Weah government as evidence of political convenience and inconsistency.
In a striking admission, Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon, a long-time critic of Weah and staunch Unity Party ally, offered a public apology on OK FM’s OK Conversation program, acknowledging that he and others may have misjudged the issue.
“As Senator Darius Dillon, who campaigned against the use of private jets by former President Weah, I want to publicly apologize to him,” Dillon said. “We did not understand the constraints, the reasons, and the justifications for using private jets by the President of Liberia. We condemned President Weah unfairly.”
He continued, “We now see the need for the use of private jets by the President, especially when national interests are at stake.”
Dillon’s admission adds a surprising twist to the unfolding controversy, raising questions about how political rhetoric aligns with the realities of governance.
As Liberia continues to battle economic hardship, high inflation, and public sector wage delays, concerns over government spending remain high. Whether Boakai’s defense will resonate with citizens struggling to make ends meet is yet to be seen.
