Executive Mansion
Monrovia, Liberia
August 6, 2026
Vice President, Jeremiah Kpan Koung;
Family and Friends;
Distinguished Members of the Judiciary;
The Honorable Chief Justice and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court;
The Honorable Speaker and Members of the Legislature;
Members of the Cabinet;
Members of the Diplomatic Corps;
Our soon-to-be Commissioned Judges and Court Marshals;
Members of the Youth Advisory Council;
The Press;
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Good afternoon. I welcome all of you.
Today marks an important milestone in our collective effort to strengthen the institutions upon which our democracy rests. It is my distinct honor to commission a new cadre of judges and court marshals who have been entrusted with one of the most sacred responsibilities in any democratic society: the fair, impartial, and faithful administration of justice, a key pillar of our ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development.
I congratulate each of you on your appointment and urge you to recognize that the office you now assume is not merely a position of privilege. It is a solemn public trust. Every decision you make, every case you hear, and every action you take will either strengthen or weaken the confidence of the Liberian people in our justice system.
The Judiciary is one of the three coequal branches of Government. Its independence is guaranteed by our Constitution, but so too is its responsibility to uphold justice without fear or favor. A nation cannot prosper where the rule of law is weak. Investors lose confidence. Citizens lose hope. Criminals become emboldened. Institutions deteriorate.
This is why strengthening the rule of law remains one of the central pillars of my Administration’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development. Economic growth, national security, social stability, and democratic
governance all depend upon a justice system that is credible, efficient, and accessible to every Liberian, regardless of status, wealth, or political affiliation. The Executive Branch of this country will never be intimidated to act in the interest of the people within the rule of law.
Today, I wish to speak candidly about one of the greatest threats confronting our nation.
The proliferation of illegal drugs, organized crime, corruption, and other criminal activities is not simply a law enforcement issue. It is a direct attack on Liberia’s future. It threatens our young people, weakens our institutions, undermines legitimate businesses, compromises our national security, and poses a threat of stigmatization of Liberia as a narcotic state. My Administration has therefore taken deliberate and intentional actions to confront these challenges head-on.
Before I proceed, I wish to express, on behalf of the Government and people of Liberia, my profound appreciation to the men and women of our Joint Security who continue to serve our nation with exceptional courage, professionalism, and unwavering devotion to duty. Day and night, often under difficult conditions, facing enormous pressure, intimidation, and personal risks, they have remained steadfast in protecting our borders, enforcing our laws, and safeguarding our citizens. Their recent efforts in disrupting narcotics trafficking and other criminal enterprises are both commendable and patriotic.
I commend every officer who has remained true to the oath of public service. Let me assure you that your sacrifices are recognized, your dedication is valued, and your Government stands firmly behind you as you continue this important work on behalf of the Liberian people.
The recent arrests, dismissals, suspensions, and investigations involving individuals connected to narcotics trafficking and other criminal activities are not isolated actions. They are not politically motivated. Nor are they intended to create headlines. They represent a determined national effort to defend the Liberian people, protect our institutions, dismantle criminal cartels, and restore confidence in the rule of law.
Let me be absolutely clear. To those who seek to bring illegal drugs into Liberia to destroy the lives of our young people, hear me today!
To those who believe Liberia can be used as a transit point for international narcotics trafficking, hear me well!
To those who believe their position, influence, wealth, or authority places them beyond the reach of justice, clean your ears and hear me today, well, well, and be warned!
We will identify you! We will pursue you! We will find you! And we will deal with you in accordance with the law. There will be no sacred cows in this Joseph Nyuma Boakai Administration.
No one who engages in criminal activity will be permitted to hide behind poverty, public office, political influence, business interests, their family connections, or any other position of authority. Whether you are a government official, a law enforcement officer, a businessman, a customs broker, or an ordinary citizen, the law must apply equally to everyone.
This is the Liberia we are determined to build. With hard work and determination, the good in us will triumph over evil. But Government cannot win this fight alone. Law enforcement agencies may investigate. Prosecutors may prosecute. Yet justice cannot be complete without a Judiciary that acts with patriotism, courage, integrity, competence, and dispatch.
The old saying reminds us that the wheels of justice turn slowly. Perhaps they do. But they must never turn so slowly that our courts become revolving doors through which criminals repeatedly pass without consequence.
Just before coming down here, the Chief Justice and I again discussed some of these issues and the role of the judiciary. He has informed me about some of the laudable efforts that he is leading to champion change and enhance our judicial system.
Mr. Chief Justice, you have my support in your reform efforts. The Liberian people deserve courts that hear cases promptly, apply the law faithfully, and deliver judgments fairly and impartially. This is not a call for predetermined outcomes. It is not an invitation to compromise judicial independence.
On the contrary, judicial independence is indispensable to democracy and must always be protected.
However, independence also demands responsibility. It demands diligence. It demands professionalism. It demands integrity. The patriotic interest of Liberia should always be foremost in our minds. Every judicial officer should recognize that while justice must remain blind to status and influence, it must never be blind to the devastating consequences that crime, corruption, and impunity impose upon our nation.
To our now-to-be-commissioned Court Marshals, you too play an indispensable role within our justice system. The orderly functioning of our courts depends upon your professionalism, discipline, and commitment to enforcing the lawful orders of the courts with dignity and impartiality. Let me urge you to discharge your responsibilities with courage, restraint, and unwavering respect for the rights and dignity of every individual.
To our now-to-be-commissioned judges, I want to encourage you to remember that your greatest legacy will not be measured by the number of cases you hear, but by the confidence your decisions inspire among the Liberian people. Let your courtrooms be places where justice is accessible, where fairness prevails, and where every citizen, regardless of means or influence, believes that the law will be applied equally.
As we continue to build a stronger Liberia, every branch of Government has a distinct constitutional responsibility. The Executive will continue to provide leadership. The Legislature will continue to enact the laws. The Judiciary must continue to interpret and apply those laws with fairness, independence, and fidelity to the Constitution.
If each branch faithfully fulfills its constitutional mandate, Liberia will emerge stronger, safer, and more prosperous.
To our now-to-be-commissioned officials, I want to congratulate you once again. I wish you wisdom in your deliberations, courage in your decisions, humility in your service, and God’s guidance in the discharge of your duties.
Before closing, today is the birthday of someone very special and dear in my life, my wife of 54 years, the First Lady, Mrs. Kartumu Y. Boakai. Allow me to use this time to join so many of you who have called and messaged her to say Happy Birthday, Mrs. Boakai. I dare not call the age. I am not allowed to. We thank the Almighty God for adding another year to your life.
Let us continue to Think Liberia, Love Liberia, and together Build Liberia.
May God bless each of you. May God bless our Judiciary. And may God continue to bless the Republic of Liberia.
I thank you.
