Cabinet Ministers Banned from Excessive Foreign Trips

MONROVIA, May 29, 2026– President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. has clamped down on official foreign travel for Cabinet Ministers and senior government officials, issuing a sweeping directive amid mounting calls for leaders to prioritize the nation’s pressing challenges at home.

The President’s directive, effective immediately, sets tough new rules for all foreign trips by ministers, agency and commission heads, ambassadors, and top officials.

President Boakai, unveiling the measure at a cabinet meeting on Thursday, said runaway travel had hampered Cabinet participation and disrupted critical operations, leaving the Administration short on key policy input and leadership during vital decisions.

He further cited the heavy financial strain of repeated foreign trips, stressing that government funds are urgently needed for national development.

Under the new rules, no government official can travel abroad on official business without the President’s explicit prior approval.

Boakai’s directive also launches a “Virtual Participation First Policy,” instructing all government bodies to use video conferencing platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams for international meetings whenever feasible.

All travel requests must now include detailed justifications—explaining the trip’s strategic importance to Liberia, estimated costs, funding sources, delegation list, and why virtual attendance won’t suffice.

Physical presence at international events will be greenlit only when “demonstrably necessary” and in clear alignment with Liberia’s national interest, Boakai emphasized.

Except in rare cases, Cabinet Ministers and senior officials are now limited to one official foreign trip per quarter, unless the President grants special permission.

Travel requests will be denied if an official’s absence is likely to disrupt Cabinet proceedings, institutional leadership, urgent decisions, or critical government duties.

The new policy also reinforces strict limits on travel class, per diem, accommodations, and related expenses, demanding full compliance with government regulations.

Oversight of the directive falls to the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs and the Cabinet Office, with exceptions permitted only in the interests of national security.

President Boakai warned that full compliance is expected in the interest of responsible governance and prudent use of public funds.