President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has nominated James Kpadeh Mulbah as Mayor of the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC), confirming a report by FrontPage Africa. Mulbah, currently General Manager of the Roberts International Airport (RIA), will replace outgoing mayor John-Charuk Siafa. Siafa has been named Officer-in-Charge of the National Insurance Corporation of Liberia (NICOL). The nominations were announced by the Executive Mansion on November 11.
Mulbah's nomination requires confirmation by the Liberian Senate. He was appointed General Manager of RIA by President Boakai on February 28, 2024. Before joining the government, Mulbah was the founder and CEO of Green Cities Incorporated, a waste segregation and recycling enterprise. His background in sanitation and waste management makes him a suitable candidate for the mayoral position.
The Liberia Solid Waste Management Association (LISWA) had urged President Boakai to appoint Mulbah as mayor in late 2023, citing his expertise in waste management. Mulbah joined the ruling Unity Party (UP) in December 2025, citing the President's stance against corruption as a major reason for his decision. Siafa, who has been mayor since March 2024, has faced criticism for his handling of the capital, including piling garbage, unpaid workers, and allegations of financial irregularities.
Siafa's tenure has been marked by controversy, with some members of the ruling party calling for his dismissal. In September 2025, Queen Johnson, a UP member, publicly accused Siafa of corruption and incompetence. The MCC has disputed reports of the city's deteriorating condition, insisting that Siafa inherited the facility in ruins. The mayor has also faced criticism for the dismissal of civil servants, which was seen as political retaliation.
The MCC faces significant funding challenges, with a budget shortfall of over $7 million. At his first budget hearing in April 2024, Siafa told lawmakers that the MCC needed $11,023,583 to function, but the 2024 draft budget allocated only $3,777,965. The 2026 national budget allocated $4.5 million to the MCC, still short of the estimated amount. Mulbah is likely to inherit the same funding dilemma.
In a separate development, George Sylvester Mulbah, National Chairman of the National Patriotic Party (NPP), has been appointed Commissioner of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau. The appointment comes weeks before the NPP's December convention, where Mulbah has announced that there will be no Standard Bearer election. The move has sparked controversy, with some partisans demanding that the convention be postponed.
President Boakai's announcement also included other appointments, including ambassadors-designate, superintendents, and commissioners. The President urged the new officials to discharge their duties with integrity and dedication. The appointments are subject to Senate confirmation where applicable. Mulbah's nomination as mayor marks a significant shake-up in the city's leadership, amid hopes for improved governance and service delivery.
Key points
- Mulbah's background in sanitation and waste management makes him a suitable candidate for the mayoral position.
- The MCC faces significant funding challenges, with a budget shortfall of over $7 million.
- The appointments are subject to Senate confirmation where applicable.
