A 72-year-old ailing Liberian man, Andrew S. Boikpah, has expressed frustration and despair over the slow pace of the country's justice system, which has left him with no means of survival. Boikpah's ordeal began when he entered into a lease agreement with Edwin J. Nyarngo for a parcel of land around the James Spriggs Airfield in Sinkor, on the outskirt of Monrovia. The land was previously used as a gas station, with two tankers beneath the ground worth $30,000.
According to Boikpah, the tankers were surreptitiously removed from beneath the ground by the leaser without his knowledge. He reported the matter to his lawyer, who wrote to Nyarngo for a conference that took nearly two years to convene. During this period, Boikpah's son passed away. Despite admitting to having the tanks during pretrial, Nyarngo has failed to return them, and the case has not been heard in court for over three months.
Boikpah's family is in complete despair due to the slow litigation, which has left him with no means of survival. He has been sick for a long time and has been seeking medication in Ghana, but his resources have been depleted. The lease agreement was for 20 years, with an optional five-year extension, leaving Boikpah's life "completely miserable," especially for his children and grandchildren.
Liberia's judicial system has been marred by controversies, with reports of justice tempering and corruption. A New Narratives investigative report published by the New Dawn Newspaper on January 19, 2026, revealed that many Liberians have lost faith in the national courts due to political interference. The report stated that justice is seen as a tool for the political elite to suppress dissent.
The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Fiscal Year 2026 Scorecard, published on May 15, 2026, revealed that Liberia failed the Rule of Law indicator with 44%, posting a negative score of -0.06 against the peer-group median of 0.00. This marks the second consecutive year of failure, down from 47% in FY2025 and 59% in FY2024.
The MCC indicator evaluates "public confidence in the judiciary and police, including the government's ability to enforce laws, contracts, and property rights fairly and effectively." Boikpah's case is a stark example of the failures of Liberia's justice system, which has left him crying out for help.
Boikpah's plight has sparked concerns about the effectiveness of Liberia's justice system, with many calling for reforms to address the backlog of cases, shortage of judges and magistrates, and limited prosecutorial capacity. The case highlights the need for urgent attention to address the systemic issues plaguing the country's justice system.
Key points
- Liberia's justice system is marred by controversies, including reports of justice tempering and corruption.
- The country's judicial system has failed to address the backlog of cases, shortage of judges and magistrates, and limited prosecutorial capacity.
- The 72-year-old man's case has left him with no means of survival, highlighting the need for urgent reforms to address systemic issues plaguing the country's justice system.
