Ministry of National Defense (Liberia)
Government ministry of Liberia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Ministry of National Defense of Liberia is the government ministry responsible for the maintenance of the national defense and the governance of the Armed Forces of Liberia.
- Geraldine George
Minister of National Defense
| |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 25 February 1955 |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Liberia |
| Headquarters | Barclay Training Center, Monrovia |
Minister responsible |
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Agency executives | |
| Website | mod |
History
An amendment to the Liberian Constitution allowed the previously named War Department to be renamed the Department of National Defense on February 25, 1955.[3] Then, during the early years of President William Tolbert's Administration after 1971, all departments were renamed Ministries and thus the organization became the Ministry of National Defense.
The Ministry's three-story building used to be located on Benson Street in downtown Monrovia, but upon the conclusion of the DynCorp / PA&E training effort in Liberia, moved to the Barclay Training Center, also located in central Monrovia, in July 2009. In early August 2009 the Ministry's Comptroller was dismissed, apparently for misappropriating US$50,000 intended for paying soldiers of the rebuilt AFL.[4]
Recent Reforms (2024–present)
In recent years, the Ministry of National Defense (Liberia) has undertaken several internal governance and modernization initiatives under the leadership of Brigadier General (Rtd.) Geraldine George, who became Liberia’s first female Minister of National Defense in April 2024.[5]
| Year | Reform / Initiative | Description and Significance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Two-day Technical Capacity-Building Training | In September 2024, the Ministry held a two-day workshop at the Barclay Training Center for Ministry and Armed Forces staff on the theme "Strengthening Defense Governance and Reform Processes for Growth and Sustainability." Topics included budgeting, procurement, internal controls, and monitoring. | Ministry of National Defense (Liberia) |
| 2025 (July 3) | Signing of Eleven Key Policy Documents | On July 3 2025, Minister George signed eleven policy directives aimed at formalizing governance and accountability practices within the Ministry. The directives covered accounting, procurement, fixed assets and warehouse management, internal audit charter, code of conduct, risk management, transportation, internship, and death gratuity policies. | GNN Liberia |
Additional developments include:
List of ministers
Source:[8]
Secretaries of War and the Navy (1848-1971)
- Joseph Jenkins Roberts (1848-1876)
- Reginald A. Sherman (1876-1892)
- Colonel Anthony D. Williams Jr. (1892-1900)[9]
- George B. Padmore
- Robert T. Sherman
- Wilmot H. Dennis
- Columbus Harris
- Isaac Moart
- James F. Cooper
- B.W. Payne
- James W. Cooper
- Momolu Massaquoi
- Joseph Dennis
- Henry Reed Cooper
- J. Foulton Dunbar
- Wilkins Tyler
- Isaac Whisnant
- Ernest J. Yancy
- Ernest C. Jones, (1950-1960)[10]
- Harrison Grisby, (1960-1963)[10]
- Robert A. Brewer (1963-1968)[10]
- Everett Jonathan Goodridge (1968-1970)[10]
Ministers of Defense (1971-present)
- Allen H. Williams (1970-1976)[10]
- Harry A. Greaves (1976[10]–1978)
- M. Burleigh Holder (1978–1979)
- James Y. Gbabee (1979–1980)
- Samuel Bennie Pearson (April 1980-1981)
- Albert Karpeh (1981-1982)
- Grey Dio-Glaye Allison (1982[11]-August 1989[12])
- J. Boima Barclay (1989–9 September 1990[13][14] )
- Edward Benyah Kesselly (January 1991 - 1993)[15]
- Arthur Dennis, (1993 - March 1994)[15]
- Sande Ware, (May 1994 - August 1995)[15]
- J. Hezekiah Bowen (1995–1997[16])
- Daniel Chea (1997–2006), as National Transitional Government of Liberia Defense Minister[17]
- Brownie J. Samukai (2006–2017)
- Major General Daniel Ziankahn (22 January 2018-9 February 2024)[18]
- Prince C. Johnson III (9 February 2024-12 February 2024)[19]
- Brigadier General Geraldine George (13 February 2024-)[20]