-Former President Sirleaf Clarifies Cabinet Reshuffle That Involved Ex-Minister King-Akerele
By Jerromie S. Walters
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 prompted 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 Sirleafwanted 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’sdeparture 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, Sirleafheaped 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 Career:
Olubanke King-Akerele is a 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 daughter of Charles G. B. King, a former mayor of Monrovia, and the niece of C. L. Simpson, who served as Vice President of Liberia, which provided her with an inherent understanding of the nation’s political landscape from an early age.
Her academic foundation for her future roles was laid internationally, beginning with her attendance at St. Joseph’s College in Raleigh, North Carolina, followed by the completion of a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and culminating with a Master of Arts in International Affairs from Columbia University in New York City.
Prior to her high-profile ministerial appointments in Liberia, she built a substantial and respected career over two decades with the United Nations, primarily within the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), where she held various posts in New York and across Africa, focusing on socio-economic development and governance, and she also served as a Senior Advisor to the UN Special Coordinator for Africa.
This extensive international work equipped her with a deep expertise in public administration and global diplomacy that she would later bring directly to the Liberian government. Following the historic election of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in 2006, King-Akerele was appointed as the Minister of Commerce and Industry, a critical role in which she was tasked with the formidable challenge of rebuilding Liberia’s war-shattered economy and improving its business climate to attract vital investment.
In a cabinet reshuffle in 2007, she was elevated to the pivotal position of Minister of Foreign Affairs, where her primary mission was to rehabilitate Liberia’s international image, which had been severely damaged by years of civil conflict and the pariah status of the preceding Charles Taylor regime. During her tenure as Foreign Minister, she played a crucial role in negotiating substantial debt forgiveness for Liberia under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative, a monumental achievement that freed up critical resources for national development, and she worked tirelessly to re-establish Liberia’s diplomatic credibility by strengthening ties with traditional partners like the United States, European nations, and regional bodies such as ECOWAS and the African Union.
Her tenure, however, was marked by her strong and principled stance on governance, which ultimately led to her resignation in 2010, an action widely reported to stem from policy differences with President Sirleaf regarding the management of the ministry and specific diplomatic approaches. Even after her resignation, she continued to serve as an advisor to the President, a testament to the value placed on her expertise, and her overall legacy is that of a key architect of Liberia’s post-war recovery, a reform-minded technocrat who brought international best practices to national governance, and a principled advocate for transparency whose career serves as an inspiration for women in leadership across Liberia and the continent.
