Cole Hails Pres. Boakai’s Leadership — Urges Respect for Rule of Law and Land Reforms

Photo: Anthony Cole, former Land Administrator of the William Zinnah Estate speaking to the media at his Paynesville GSA Road Zinnah Hill office.

Paynesville, Liberia — Anthony Cole, former Land Administrator of the William Zinnah Estate, has praised President Joseph Nyuma Boakai for what he described as visible progress in national development and improved law enforcement, while strongly calling on Liberians to respect the rule of law, particularly in land and property matters.

Speaking to members of the press, Cole said President Boakai’s leadership is gradually positioning Liberia on a development path comparable to emerging success stories on the African continent. According to him, the President’s commitment to governance and continuity in development is evident across key sectors.

“I really admire the President of this country for his role when it comes to development,” Cole said. “President Joseph Nyuma Boakai is pushing Liberia to a point where, in the future, we can compare ourselves with countries that have made significant development strides.”

Cole also applauded the Judiciary and security institutions, particularly the Chief Justice of the Republic of Liberia, the Minister of Justice, and the Director of the Liberia National Police, Gregory O. Coleman, for what he termed a drastic reduction in armed robbery incidents across the country.

“At one time, armed robbery was the order of the day,” he noted. “But today, it has gone down significantly. I have not been hearing about armed robbery like before, and that is due to the efforts of the Ministry of Justice, the police, and the Anti-Robbery Unit.”

While commending progress in crime reduction, Cole urged authorities to intensify efforts against arson, which he described as a growing and dangerous crime. He called on the Liberia National Police and the Anti-Robbery Unit to expand their focus to include arsonists, stressing that such actions threaten national peace and security.

On land-related issues, Cole raised concern over widespread land fraud and illegal property conveyance, which he said continue to undermine public confidence and create conflict, especially for Liberians in the diaspora seeking to invest back home.

“There are many land criminals in this country who have no deeds or title documents but still sell land to unsuspecting people,” he warned. “I want to urge citizens and investors to verify property ownership through the Liberia Land Authority before acquiring any land.”

He further condemned mob justice, threats, and violence linked to land disputes, emphasizing that Liberia is a country governed by law. According to him, disputes must be resolved through the courts and the police, not through intimidation or violence.

“The court is not a place to be afraid of,” Cole said. “Go to the police, file a complaint, go to court. Justice cannot be bought. The law is the law.”

Cole stressed that government has no involvement in his personal legal matters, noting that his confidence in the justice system is based on adherence to statutory law rather than political influence. He said praising government officials for good performance should not be misconstrued as seeking favor.

“I don’t need government to help me in court,” he said. “Where the truth lies, I put it there. I believe in the rule of law.”

Touching on governance, Cole described government as a continuous process, stating that successive administrations build on the work of their predecessors. He acknowledged that past governments, including the immediate former administration, played their part, but noted that public satisfaction ultimately determines electoral outcomes.

“If the citizens feel President Boakai is doing well, they will re-elect him,” he said. “Government is continuity.”

In closing, Cole admonished Liberians to live as patriotic citizens by obeying the laws of the land, refraining from criminal acts, threats, violence, and illegal land practices. He stressed that Liberia is a democratic nation and must be governed by justice, accountability, and respect for human rights.

“Liberia is a country of law,” he concluded. “We should live by our statutory laws so that our country can remain peaceful and move forward in development.”