Monrovia, May 22 -- President Joseph Boakai's renewed efforts to reclaim a 20 percent share in Lonestar Cell MTN's mobile money service-reportedly following the death of one of the shareholders-has ignited a wave of public criticism and raised questions about the administration's understanding of private ownership rights.

FrontPage Africa has learned that the shares in question do not belong to the Government of Liberia, as suggested by President Boakai, but rather to a consortium of private Liberian citizens. During a recent Cabinet meeting, President Boakai expressed concern that the 20 percent share intended for Liberia was being diverted to private individuals.

The President made the surprising revelation during his monthly cabinet...