UBCAA Commends President Boakai for Ordering the Immediate Reopening of Phebe Hospital and Establishing Special Committee
July 13, 2026 – The United Bong County Association in the Americas, Inc. (UBCAA) commends His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., President of the Republic of Liberia, for his swift and decisive intervention in ordering the immediate reopening of Phebe Hospital in Suakoko, Bong County, and directing the full resumption of healthcare services.
UBCAA welcomes the President’s decision, which demonstrates his commitment to protecting the health and well-being of the Liberian people. The Association believes that access to quality healthcare is a fundamental right and that no administrative or governance dispute should deprive citizens of life-saving medical services.
As one of Liberia’s leading referral hospitals, Phebe Hospital provides essential healthcare services to thousands of people across Bong County and neighboring counties. Its reopening brings renewed hope to patients, healthcare workers, and communities that rely heavily on the institution for specialized and emergency medical care.
UBCAA also highly commends President Boakai for establishing a Special Committee, chaired by the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs and comprising representatives of the Ministry of Health, the governing churches of Phebe Hospital, and other relevant institutions.
The committee’s responsibility to investigate the underlying causes of the recent dispute and recommend immediate, medium-term, and long-term solutions is a significant step toward restoring confidence in the hospital’s governance and ensuring sustainable healthcare delivery.
The Association supports a transparent, impartial, inclusive, and timely review of all matters that contributed to the disruption of services, including concerns relating to institutional governance, management decisions, staff placement, salary disparities, working conditions, and other operational challenges. UBCAA believes every affected stakeholder should be given a fair opportunity to present their concerns and contribute to meaningful and lasting solutions.
Furthermore, UBCAA welcomes President Boakai’s call for healthcare institutions to remain free from political interference and other non-medical influences.
The Association believes that decisions affecting Phebe Hospital must always be guided by professionalism, accountability, fairness, transparency, and the healthcare needs of the Liberian people.
UBCAA calls upon the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs, the Lutheran, Episcopal, and United Methodist Churches, the Bong County Legislative Caucus, the administration and staff of Phebe Hospital, community leaders, civil society organizations, and all relevant stakeholders to fully cooperate with the Special Committee and support the implementation of the President’s directives.
The Association further encourages the Government of Liberia and the governing institutions of Phebe Hospital to use this opportunity to establish a long-term framework that promotes stable leadership, adequate funding, improved working conditions for healthcare professionals, uninterrupted healthcare services, sound institutional governance, and stronger accountability mechanisms.
UBCAA expresses its sincere appreciation to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. for his prompt response to this national concern and for taking decisive action to restore healthcare services at Phebe Hospital.
The Association remains committed to supporting initiatives that strengthen the healthcare sector and improve access to quality medical services for the people of Bong County, Central Liberia, and the nation as a whole.
Signed:
Emmett S. Yarsiah
Public Relations Officer (PRO)
United Bong County Association in the Americas, Inc. (UBCAA)
