MONROVIA – The ongoing construction of a multi-million-dollar villa in Foya, Lofa County, has once again thrown Liberia’s executive branch into the national spotlight, raising uncomfortable questions about transparency, accountability, and political propriety. Political commentator Henry P. Costa recently asserted that the late Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Sylvester Grigsby, was the mastermind behind the project, intended as a surprise gift for President Joseph Boakai. Rather than calming public anxieties, Costa’s revelations have intensified scrutiny of both the President and his administration.
Speaking on Sunday night, October 27, 2025, during an interview with Stanton Witherspoon, CEO of Spoon Network, Costa was unequivocal: the President allegedly had no prior knowledge of the Foya villa initiative. According to Costa, it was a personal undertaking by the late Grigsby, designed to honor the Liberian leader in his hometown. “The President knew absolutely nothing about this project,” Costa insisted. While this claim may absolve President Boakai of direct involvement, it raises serious concerns about the culture of decision-making within the Executive Mansion, where significant initiatives apparently unfold outside formal channels.
Costa did not limit his critique to the late Grigsby’s role. He also leveled sharp criticism at the current Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Samuel A. Stevquoah, accusing him of misleading the public by denying knowledge of the villa construction. “Minister Stevquoah should stop pretending,” Costa said. “He knows very well what’s happening in Foya. To deny it is simply dishonest.” This accusation, if substantiated, underscores the lack of clarity and openness surrounding high-profile government projects; it is a troubling pattern in a democracy that thrives on accountability.
The Foya villa project itself has become a lightning rod for public debate. Concerns over funding sources, the necessity of the construction, and the opacity surrounding contractors have dominated discourse in recent weeks. Eddie Jarwolo, Executive Director of NAYTOME-Liberia, first flagged the project in September, revealing that the villa, valued at over US$10 million, was being constructed by MUSNS Groups Incorporated, a company allegedly linked to close presidential associates. Questions about why such a costly endeavor was undertaken, and who authorized it, remain unanswered.
Civil society actors have also weighed in. Anderson Miamen, in a Facebook post on October 27, 2025, expressed frustration over the lack of clarity: “After one month, no convincing info regarding the necessity of the Foya Project.” His statement reflects the growing impatience of Liberians who expect transparency from those entrusted with public resources. The Foya villa controversy is not just a story about bricks and mortar; it is emblematic of deeper governance failures.
Deputy Information Minister Daniel Sando has reacted sharply to civil society criticism regarding the construction of the villa in Foya. Appearing on Punch FM on Monday, September 29, 2025, Sando dismissed the criticism as politically motivated and misguided. “We expect that when Mr. Jarwolo speaks, his utterance should represent him,” Sando said. He added that the criticism attempts to draw a false equivalence, suggesting that because former President Weah built a condominium, President Boakai is now building a villa. “That is evil of Mr. Jarwolo,” he said, emphasizing that the construction is part of a broader Mano River Union project, which would have proceeded regardless of the sitting president.
MICAT reportedly misled the public by attributing the construction to the Mano River Union (MRU). The MRU categorically denied involvement in a press release issued in September. The statement, released on September 29, 2025, came in response to remarks by Deputy Information Minister Daniel Sando. MRU Secretary General Ambassador Simeon Moribah reiterated that building presidential palaces is not part of the organization’s agenda. “Our focus remains on improving the lives of our citizens through collaborative efforts in trade, security, and human development,” he said. The Union urged the public to disregard misleading information and rumors, reaffirming its commitment to fostering peace, security, economic integration, and social and cultural development among member states, including Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Côte d’Ivoire.
Despite Costa’s account that the late Grigsby initiated the project, this discrepancy raises a fundamental question: if the ministry cannot provide accurate information, who will hold the Executive Branch accountable?
The death of Sylvester Grigsby further complicates matters. With the alleged “brainchild” of the project gone, the responsibility of clarifying its purpose and justifying its cost now falls squarely on the shoulders of the sitting President and his ministers. Liberia deserves to know who is truly behind the villa, who is financing it, and why it was deemed necessary in the first place. Silence or misdirection on this matter will only deepen public distrust in governance.
It is also worth noting the broader political optics. A US$10 million villa in the President’s hometown, funded in a context where many Liberians struggle with basic infrastructure and social services, sends a troubling signal. Even if conceived as a “gift,” the project projects a sense of elitism and disconnect from the day-to-day realities of ordinary citizens. Accountability is not just about legality; it is about the ethical exercise of leadership.
The Foya villa saga is a litmus test for Liberia’s democratic institutions. It exposes gaps in oversight, raises questions about ministerial conduct, and underscores the urgent need for transparency in government initiatives. Citizens deserve answers, and the Executive Branch cannot continue to treat such projects as private matters, especially when they involve public interest, perception, and scrutiny.
The villa in Foya is more than a construction project; it is a mirror reflecting systemic weaknesses in governance under President Boakai. While Costa’s comments may seek to exonerate the President from direct involvement, they also inadvertently highlight the culture of secrecy and insufficient accountability that allowed such a project to emerge without public notice or debate. Liberia must demand clarity, transparency, and responsibility from those in power. Anything less undermines trust and erodes the very foundations of democracy.
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