President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has appointed Mrs. Amira B.A. Johnson, widow of the late Nimba County Senator Prince Y. Johnson, as a member of the Board of Directors of the National Port Authority (NPA).
The appointment, announced early Monday morning through the official Executive Mansion page, comes just weeks after the funeral of the former senator, whose passing left a political vacuum in the county and among his loyal supporters.
Sources within the Nimba County community revealed that Mrs. Johnson’s appointment was influenced by Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung, who reportedly made a direct appeal to President Boakai on behalf of the Johnson family. The conversation is said to have taken place during a post-funeral family meeting between the President and the bereaved family members.
“The Vice President took the lead in lobbying the President,” one source said. “This appointment is part of ongoing efforts to ensure the Johnson family remains recognized for their contributions to the political and developmental history of the county.”
Further sources close to the matter say Vice President Koung is also advocating for the government to assume full responsibility for the Prince Y. Johnson (PYJ) University in Ganta, seeking to convert the private institution into a fully sponsored public university under the Liberian Government.
Confirming these developments, Mr. Kelvin D.J. Mattaldi, National Vice Chair for Press and Public Affairs of the Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR), told Cable Media-Liberia:
“The VP, Jeremiah Koung, is doing everything possible to protect the legacy of the late Senator Prince Y. Johnson.”
Mrs. Johnson’s appointment to the NPA Board is seen by many as a symbolic gesture by the Boakai administration to maintain political balance and honor regional allies, especially in Nimba County, where the legacy of Prince Y. Johnson still carries significant influence.
The NPA Board oversees operations of Liberia’s major seaports and plays a crucial role in national trade, economic growth, and infrastructure development. Mrs. Johnson’s inclusion is expected to further strengthen the administration’s political relationships with influential stakeholders in the northeast.
