When President Joseph Nyuma Boakai dismissed Wilmot Paye as Minister of Mines and Energy, the Executive Mansion offered only a routine statement, giving little public explanation. Behind closed doors, however, sources within the government and the Ministry of Mines and Energy say the decision followed growing alarm over Paye’s conduct, judgment, and what officials describe as a serious threat to investor confidence in Liberia’s mining sector.
Officials familiar with the process say the President received repeated briefings from advisers and sector experts, warning that the situation at the ministry was becoming increasingly difficult to manage.
“The President was advised that confidence in the ministry’s leadership was eroding internally and externally,” said a senior government official. “Mining is a strategic sector. When confidence collapses, the entire economy is exposed.”
The dismissal was officially communicated through Executive Mansion channels in line with the President’s constitutional authority, but insiders say the move reflected a culmination of months of concern over Paye’s approach to governance.
Since leaving office, Paye has turned his social media accounts and public appearances into a platform for repeated attacks on ArcelorMittal Liberia and other legally operating investors. Government insiders describe the tone and frequency of his attacks as “shocking” and say they have unsettled many within the Unity Party–led government he claims to support.
In a recent Facebook post, Paye highlighted revenue figures from Bea Mountain Mining Company and estimated Liberia’s iron ore potential along the Yekepa–Buchanan corridor, arguing that national wealth was being mismanaged and undermined. Officials say these were issues he could have addressed formally while in office through Cabinet discussions or policy papers, but he chose public confrontation instead.
“If these were serious concerns, why weren’t they handled through official channels when he had the authority?” a senior ministry official asked.
Multiple sources tell this publication that the former minister also raised concerns about some investors while publicly appearing supportive of others, creating questions about motive and intent. In addition, internal investigations suggest that sensitive negotiation details, particularly involving ArcelorMittal Liberia, were discussed outside official government channels during Paye’s tenure.
“Negotiations are not social media content,” said an official who participated in sector discussions. “Once confidential positions start circulating informally, Liberia loses leverage and credibility.”
While no public report has been issued, insiders say concerns about discretion and trust heavily influenced the President’s decision. Ministry sources also point to Paye’s lack of technical expertise as a critical issue. Mining agreements involve complex geology, infrastructure, fiscal modeling, and international investment law, areas where insiders say Paye repeatedly struggled to provide sound, technically grounded advice to the President and Cabinet.
“There were times the ministry could not provide clear guidance on critical decisions,” said a senior official. “That vacuum creates real economic consequences.”
Several government sources privately acknowledge that appointing a politically active figure to such a technical ministry created challenges from the outset. The situation has reignited debate within policy circles about the dangers of conflating activism with governance. While reform and accountability are important, officials say Cabinet leadership requires professionalism, discretion, and the ability to engage investors without creating public confrontations.
“You can push reform without sabotaging the government you serve,” a Cabinet-level source noted. “Once public attacks replace structured engagement, investor confidence suffers, and the country pays the price.”
Officials close to President Boakai insist that the dismissal was not a political move but a necessary step to protect the credibility of Liberia’s mining sector and stabilize a sensitive part of the economy. As Wilmot Paye continues his public criticisms, government insiders warn that his unguarded statements risk portraying Liberia as divided and unreliable to investors, undermining efforts to attract investment, create jobs, and develop infrastructure.
This publication has contacted Wilmot Paye for comment. Any response received will be published in the interest of fairness.
