Executive Mansion, Monrovia — His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., President of the Republic of Liberia, on Thursday, January 1, 2026 hosted a New Year Breakfast meeting with a leadership delegation of stakeholders of Quardu-Gboni District, Lofa County.

The engagement, which focused on peace-building, development priorities, and strengthened community cooperation in the district, also involved representatives of the descendants of the Founding Fathers of the Unity Party.

Leading the delegation was Mr. Abdullah L. Kamara, a leading Liberian technology entrepreneur and prominent son of Quardu-Gboni District, who previously served as the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA).  Mr. Kamara, on behalf of the delegation, expressed gratitude to the President for receiving his Team as the first guest grouping to be by the Presidency in 2026, acknowledging the warm welcome received.

During the interaction with the President, the delegation presented an assortment of gifts to the President, including a cattle and various agricultural products. This, the delegation noted was a gesture of goodwill and respect from the people of Quardu-Gboni District and the Descendants of the Unity Party’s Founding Fathers.

Making the presentation, Mr. Fomba Trawallay, an outstanding entrepreneur and Son of the District noted that the presentation was a modest traditional gesture of appreciation to the “Traditional Uncle” who has stood with the people of the District in both good and challenging times.

Following the breakfast component of the visit, President Boakai accorded the delegation with an extended engagement period, lasting almost an hour during which he shared some reflections on his long-standing personal, as well as official, relationship with Quardu-Gboni District, spanning several decades which he noted, “transcended contemporary politics.”

The President recalled his close ties with several historic leaders associated with Quardu-Gboni and the Unity Party, including the late towering Paramount Chief who also served as a Member of the House of Representatives, Honorable Musa M. Kamara (affectionately called as “Musa Gboni”), the late Dr. Edward Binyah Kesselly, Founding Father and first Standard Bearer of the Unity Party; and the late Honorable Henry Marvie, Sr., a former leading executive of the Lofa County Agricultural Development Project (LCADP) and outstanding educator and Son of the District.  

Dr. Kesselly served the Liberian Government in various capacities, including Minister of Information, Minister of Local Government, and Minister of Posts and Telecommunications.

President Boakai also remembered the late Honorable Losene M. Kamara, of the Bureau of Customs and Excise of the Ministry of Finance and former Secretary General and then Chairman of the Liberia National Muslim Council, another great Son and leader of the District.

The President recounted shared efforts over the years to strengthen Quardu-Gboni as a productive agricultural district, recalling a period when the District ranked high among Liberia’s major suppliers of rice, cocoa, and coffee.

In presenting the District’s current priorities, the delegation highlighted ongoing initiatives in reconciliation in Quardu-Gboni, particularly following the contentious 2023 election season which, they noted, created divisions and bad blood within the District. The delegation further commended the President on ongoing development efforts and highlighted key initiatives, including:

• The ongoing feeder road improvements and connectivity by Public Works;
• The proposed community radio station to strengthen information access and social cohesion; and
• The proposed senior high school and
• The proposed TVET (technical and vocational education and training) services in the district.

On the high school need, President Boakai informed the delegation that the Minister of Education has been asked to ensure Quardu-Gboni District is equipped with a senior high school, noting that such an intervention is long overdue.

Regarding agriculture and the revival of the Quardu-Gboni Agriculture Cooperative, Mr. Henry Marvie, Jr., a member of the delegation, provided an update on moves being made for the reactivation of the Cooperative, including the announcement of a US $500,000 starting capital.  Mr. Marvie recommended that the President be formally invited to participate in the initiative—both in recognition of the President’s long experience in the agricultural sector and his historic role in supporting the cooperative’s initial establishment.  

The delegation also noted with appreciation the gains the district has recorded under President Boakai’s leadership, including the appointment of several citizens of the district to strategic positions in his Government.

In response, President Boakai reaffirmed that while his administration remains mindful of national inclusion and regional balance, appointments are fundamentally driven by competence and qualification, consistent with his commitment to performance-based public service.

The President referenced the exceptional work of Mr. Mohammed Sheriff, Managing Director of the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC), also a son of Quardu-Gboni District, noting that his Administration places priority on leadership that delivers results and advances national interests, including efforts aimed at addressing critical challenges facing the nation.

The President also praised entrepreneurs from Quardu-Gboni District who are addressing critical national gaps through private-sector investment and job creation. He expressed satisfaction with Mr. Fomba Trawallay, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Liberia National Toiletries (popularly known as  Kumba Bendu and Sons), for contributing to local production and employment. The President further commended Mr. Mohammed Kamara, operator of one of Liberia’s major rice processing mills, one located in Foya and another in Jarmulor, Quardu-Gboni), noting that the locally produced rice brand, “Foya Queen,” reflects the quality and productivity the nation must pursue. He observed that, “it is higher in quality than most imported rice”.

President Boakai encouraged continued reconciliation and constructive engagement in Quardu-Gboni District and welcomed sustained collaboration with stakeholders to advance peace and development across Liberia.

In concluding the engagement, the President accepted a request to host a tête-à-tête dinner with entrepreneurs of the District, aimed at discussing investment priorities and hearing directly about business realities and opportunities.

Delegation Leader Abdullah Kamara again expressed appreciation to the President for the audience and assured that the delegation will return to Quardu-Gboni District with messages of His Excellency, while ensuring that the President is kept up to date on interventions and development efforts in the district.