Monrovia, Liberia – Former presidential candidate and Alternative National Congress (ANC) leader Alexander B. Cummings has partly defended President Joseph Boakai’s controversial use of private jets, urging Liberians to focus on performance over perception.
In a public statement addressing growing criticism over Boakai’s foreign travels by private charter, Cummings acknowledged the discomfort such optics may create but emphasized the practical benefits for a sitting president.
“As someone who’s worked at a very senior level and managed private jets, I understand the value of time—especially for someone in charge of running a country,” Cummings noted.
“Spending over ten hours in airport lounges or dealing with layovers doesn’t make sense when that time could be used for the actual work of governing.”
He argued that while some short routes like Monrovia to Accra or Abidjan might justify commercial flights, destinations such as Abuja or New York involve long and uncertain connections, making private travel a tool of efficiency rather than extravagance.
However, Cummings did not shy away from acknowledging public frustration, noting, “Liberia is still struggling. People are hurting… and seeing leaders fly private can feel like a slap in the face.”
He added that public criticism would likely be muted if citizens saw tangible national progress. “If Liberia was thriving—if people saw better services and job opportunities—nobody would be talking about how the president flies,” he said.
Cummings suggested that in a more stable economic future, investing in a government-owned plane for official use might be a worthwhile option.
“Ultimately, what matters most isn’t the flight—it’s the results,” he concluded. “Let’s keep our eyes on what really counts: performance, not just perception.”
President Boakai’s travel choices have sparked renewed debate on government spending, transparency, and priorities at a time when many Liberians continue to face economic hardship. In a BBC interview the Liberian leader made similar justification stating that he uses private jet when necessary.
