-As She Clarifies Cabinet Reshuffle Claim
MONROVIA – A recent discussion on the Prime Morning Drive has cast a renewed spotlight on the 2010 cabinet reshuffle of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, prompting a direct and clarifying response from the former leader herself, who lauded her former Foreign Minister, Olubanke King-Akerele, as one of her administration’s “best performers.”
The clarification was spurred by comments made by journalist Danesius Marteh on the October 16, 2025, edition of the program. While discussing the leadership of former President Sirleaf, Marteh asserted, “Once upon a time, Madam Sirleaf wanted to dismiss three of her cabinet members, including Richard Tolbert and Olubanke King. She later suspended her whole cabinet except for Brownie Samukai, who was the Minister of Defense.”
Marteh suggested this move annoyed other officials, including the then-Labor Minister Taiwan Gongloe.
However, in a subsequent statement aimed at setting the record straight via a call with the journalist on the radio (Prime FM), former President Sirleaf firmly dismissed the claim of an intended dismissal and instead attributed King-Akerele’s departure to a principled resignation.
A “Reimagining” Exercise, Not a Purge:
Sirleaf explained that the wholesale suspension of her cabinet was a strategic pause, not a prelude to dismissals. “The reason for that leave was to ensure that all cabinet members had the chance to rethink, to reimagine their responsibilities for a new wave of pushing our agenda towards a result,” Sirleaf stated, reframing the event as a reflective leadership exercise designed to reinvigorate her administration’s focus.
It was within this context, she clarified, that Minister King-Akerele chose to step down. “Minister Olubanke King resigned because of her strong will,” Sirleaf said. “She’s somebody who was one of our best performers but maybe felt a little bit insulted by that action.” This marks a significant clarification, pinpointing the resignation as a personal decision by King-Akerele, rooted in her principled nature and her perception of the cabinet suspension, rather than a direct firing by the President.
Far from criticizing her former minister’s decision, Sirleaf heaped praise on King-Akerele, unequivocally celebrating her contributions. “She was one of our best performers. One of the persons we respected for integrity, determination, and somebody who was really committed to the development of this country,” Sirleaf affirmed.
She further solidified this commendation, adding, “and she has remained that way… a true patriot in the interest of the people of this country.” This public endorsement underscores the high regard in which King-Akerele was held, despite the circumstances surrounding her resignation.
Olubanke King-Akerele is an eminent Liberian politician, diplomat, and development expert whose career has been instrumental in shaping her country’s post-civil war recovery and international re-engagement. She hails from a prominent Liberian political family, being the grand daughter of Charles G. B. King, a former Liberian President.
Note: this is an erratum to a previously published article with some wrong inform
