MONROVIA, Liberia — The Government of Liberia has launched an investigation into the unauthorized leak of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s Annual Message, while also issuing a stern public warning over a sophisticated impersonation scam targeting prominent Liberians, Information Minister Jerolinmek Matthew Piah announced during Tuesday’s regular press briefing.
Minister Piah described the premature circulation of the President’s address before and during its delivery as a serious breach of ethical and professional standards. He disclosed that the Executive Mansion and the Ministry of State are actively probing how the document entered the public domain ahead of its official presentation.
“The leakage of a presidential message before or during delivery is a grave act of unprofessional and unethical conduct,” Piah said, stressing that safeguarding the integrity of state communications is essential to democratic governance.
In a related development, the Ministry relayed an urgent advisory from the Office of the Chief Justice concerning a fraudulent scheme involving fake WhatsApp and mobile money accounts impersonating Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene Yuoh. According to the notice, scammers used the Chief Justice’s identity to solicit money from unsuspecting citizens under false pretenses.
The Office of the Chief Justice clarified that no fundraising or celebration is being organized by the judiciary and warned that any request for money in the Chief Justice’s name is criminal. Authorities have initiated steps to identify and prosecute those behind the impersonation.
Beyond security and ethics concerns, Minister Piah used the briefing to reaffirm the administration’s commitment to institutional integrity, including respect for the separation of powers. Responding to questions on judicial reform, he noted that reform of the judiciary falls within the constitutional mandate of that branch, guided by its own five-year strategic plan.
Piah also reiterated that reconciliation in Liberia cannot be imposed solely through policy but must be driven by collective national will. While acknowledging the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s framework, he emphasized that healing ultimately requires personal and societal choices to let go of past grievances.
The briefing concluded with assurances that the government will continue engaging the public through regular, transparent communication, while protecting the dignity of state institutions and holding accountable those who undermine public trust.
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