-Urges Restraint on Weah Health Rumors
MONROVIA, Liberia — Presidential Press Secretary Kula Fofana on Friday, November 7, pushed back against criticism that President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s recent foreign trips have not produced results, outlining a series of outcomes and follow‑ups from engagements in France, the United Arab Emirates and other capitals, and urging the public to judge the visits by partnerships secured—not by the expectation of “bags of money.”
“There will always be critics,” Fofana told Executive Mansion reporters. “But the President’s travels have yielded lots of different fruits and a lot of opportunities from day one… When you get into office, you introduce your agenda globally and garner support. That has happened.”
She said the administration has used the travels to repair strained relationships, unlock stalled projects and open new pathways for jobs and investment:
- China ties and stalled projects: Fofana said Liberia’s relationship with China had been “really challenging before now,” but President Boakai’s engagement with President Xi Jinping helped “reactivate” delayed infrastructure, including an overhead pass and other road works, with additional projects expected.
- France deliverables: She cited the Paris visit, where, according to prior Executive Mansion releases, Liberia and France signed a General Cooperation Agreement spanning education, health, water and sanitation, renewable energy, forestry and youth/sports; met with the French Development Agency on reactivating stalled projects; and expanded a Dec. 8 French mission to Monrovia into a broader peace and security dialogue.
- U.S. ties and visas: Fofana linked the United States’ recent move to extend the validity of certain visas for Liberians from one to three years to high‑level engagement in Washington, saying the administration’s outreach “has yielded fruit.”
- UAE jobs pipeline: She said the UAE and wider Gulf labor market are offering millions of jobs to Africans across construction, services, security, aviation and other sectors, and that Liberia is pushing for a meaningful share. “Imagine our President going and engaging them and saying, ‘We know you want to do five million for Africans, but can we get at least 10% or 5% of that?’” She added that Boakai has directed his team to “work very, very hard” on follow‑up so commitments don’t “fall through the cracks.”
Fofana stressed that foreign trips are about securing partnerships, finance and technical support—not flying home with cash. “When a President travels, it doesn’t mean you’re going to bring bags of money back,” she said. “He goes to engage leaders and ask specifically for investment in areas that Liberians will benefit.”
On a question about an online rumor that former President George Manneh Weah is ill and hospitalized in Ghana, Fofana urged restraint. “It’s people’s health… Until there’s an official statement from the political party or the former president, you don’t want to dignify that because it’s rumor,” she said. “If there’s any form of truth in it, we wish the former president very well… We ask Liberians to desist from speculating someone’s illness or wishing ill health on anyone.”
Fofana underscored that Boakai’s travel schedule is mission‑driven. “He’s never taking any vacation or going on visits for leisure,” she said. “He goes to engage people… and ask specifically for investment in areas that Liberians will benefit.”
The press secretary said the administration will continue communicating progress as the France and UAE follow‑ups move from commitments to execution, including employment channels for Liberians abroad, support for agriculture initiatives raised in Rome, and the reactivation of delayed infrastructure with key partners. “These visits are yielding fruit, and they will continue to yield fruit,” she said. “That’s what the Liberian people want.”
