Joseph Boakai

Joseph Nyumah Boakai (born 30 November 1944) is a Liberian politician who has been Vice President of Liberia since January 2006, serving under President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Previously he was Minister of Agriculture from 1983 to 1985.

Personal life

Joseph Boakai was born on 30 November 1944 in Worsonga, Foya District, Lofa County to illiterate parents. He is married to Kartumu Boakai and they have four children. Boakai is a religious Christian and a Deacon of the Effort Baptist Church.

Education

Boakai attended primary and high school in Sierra Leone and Liberia before graduating from the College of West Africa, the University of Liberia in 1972 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, and then Kansas State University, which he attended on a USAID grant, graduating in 1976.

Political career

Boakai went on to jobs in both the public and private sector. He worked for the Liberia Produce Marketing Corporation in the 1970s. From 1983 to 1985, he served as Minister of Agriculture under President Samuel Doe. While Minister of Agriculture, Boakai chaired the 15 nation West African Rice Development Association. He later worked as a consultant to the World Bank in Washington and also founded a firm dealing in agricultural equipment and consultancy. He has served as board chairman of the Liberia Wood Management Corporation and of the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company.