Liberia: Close Ties Between Boakai Officials and AGL Raise Concerns Amid Ongoing Corruption Probe of Company's 'Controversial' Former Owners

Monrovia — Concerns are rising about the ties between President Joseph Boakai's advisor, MacDella Cooper, and House Speaker Richard Koon. Their alleged connections to African Global Logistics (AGL) raise questions about transparency in Liberia's leadership. AGL is the successor of Bolloré Africa Logistics, a company with a history of election interference and corruption.

The Boakai-Koung administration promised to improve Liberia's economy and attract investors. Recently, Cooper and Koon claimed they were exploring investment opportunities. However, their dealings with AGL have come under scrutiny.

Cooper and Koon are reportedly negotiating with AGL, which rebranded after allegations of fraud surfaced. AGL was formed when the Mediterranean Shipping Company acquired Bolloré's Africa operations in December 2022. In May, Cooper shared on Facebook that she met Sierra Leone’s Vice President to discuss trade opportunities.

AGL announced the visit on its official page. They described it as a high-powered delegation from Liberia conducting a visibility study of their operations. The group included lawmakers and National Port Authority board members. They toured key facilities and received presentations from AGL management.

However, an investigation by FrontPage Africa suggests the visit had other motives. Sources claim it aimed to introduce Speaker Koon to AGL amid serious legal troubles for its former owners.

The offices of Cooper and Koon have not responded yet.

In March, civil society groups from five African countries filed complaints against Vincent Bolloré and his son for fraud and corruption. They accused them of unlawfully obtaining port rights in West Africa. French prosecutors have opened an investigation into these claims.

Despite rebranding as AGL, the company remains under the same management team. Critics argue that this move appears strategic to avoid legal liabilities—a tactic known as "corporate veiling."

Sources indicate that the Liberian delegation included close allies of Unity Party officials who supported Koon’s rise to speakership. An economist questioned whether their collaboration with AGL aims for genuine development or personal gain at citizens' expense.

With ongoing allegations against AGL’s former owners, calls for accountability are increasing.

"This exposé should be a wake-up call," said one concerned source. "Liberia must not compromise democratic integrity by partnering with exploitative corporations."

Although no concrete outcomes from the visit have been announced yet, critics compare it to past controversial negotiations involving President Boakai’s aides. Those negotiations led to a deal with Guma Group for road construction equipment that faced heavy criticism before being renegotiated down significantly.

As events unfold, media and civil society must remain vigilant about Liberia's future—focused on justice, transparency, and ethical governance.