Cllr. Joel Elkanah Theoway

Hon. Cllr. Joel Elkanah Theoway is an enthusiastic, prolific, and dedicated Liberian legal professional currently serving as the Assistant Minister of Justice for Economic Affairs. With over twenty (21) years of distinguished experience across multiple sectors, including more than twelve (12) years in the progressive practice of law, he brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his public service. He was called to the Bar as an Attorney–at–Law on August 13, 2014, and was subsequently admitted to the Supreme Court Bar as a Counsellor–at–Law on February 18, 2022. Hon. Cllr. Theoway’s tertiary academic journey is marked by excellence and a global perspective. After earning his baccalaureate degree in Mass Communication (2008), he matriculated to the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law, University of Liberia in 2010, where he obtained a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) Degree in 2013. His pursuit of specialised knowledge led him to earn a Master of Laws (LL.M) Degree in International Maritime Law from the prestigious IMO International Maritime Law Institute in Malta (2021), and another Master of Laws Degree (LL.M) in the Laws of Mineral and Petroleum Extract and Use from the University of Cape Town in South Africa (2026). He also holds an International Master's in European Project Planning and Management from PIXEL in Florence, Italy (2020). He is also an ITLOS/NIPPON Fellow, having completed a nine-month fellowship in dispute settlement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) in Hamburg, Germany (2016). Throughout his career, Hon. Cllr. Theoway has held several key positions that have shaped his legal prowess. He has served as Staff Attorney at the Ministry of Justice (2014-2017), Law Clerk at the Supreme Court of Liberia, Legal Consultant at the National Investment Commission, Legal Counsel at the National Public Health Institute, Legal Consultant at the Liberia Maritime Authority, National Legal Expert for the Multi-stakeholders Forest Governance and Accountability Program (MFGAP), etc. As it relates to the banking Sector, Hon. Cllr. Theoway's first lawyering job was at Guaranty Trust Bank (Liberia) Limited, where he served as Legal Officer; many years later, he served as Legal Counsel and Company Secretary at Cititrust Savings and Loans (Liberia) Limited. He is the Ministry of Justice’s focal person to the Central Bank of Liberia, a capacity in which he advises on and addresses a wide range of legal issues presented by the Central Bank of Liberia to the Ministry of Justice. Hon. Cllr. Theoway brings substantial practical experience to discussions on non-performing loans and legal and judicial reform. In his previous role as Company Secretary and Legal Adviser to CITITRUST Savings and Loans (Liberia) Ltd., he supported the recovery of non-performing loan portfolios by structuring settlements, perfecting security interests, coordinating enforcement actions, and advising on recovery strategy. Earlier, as Legal Officer at Guaranty Trust Bank (Liberia) Ltd., he prepared and perfected loan agreements, mortgages, charges, and other security documentation, while coordinating collateral enforcement, loan recovery, external counsel, courts, and registries. Hon. Cllr. Theoway's general legal practice over the years has been marked by demonstrated competence in drafting legal instruments, providing advisory opinions, litigation, adjudication, and negotiation. Colleagues and employers alike acclaim him for being reliable, meticulous, innovative, and highly competent. A natural-born Liberian, Hon. Cllr. Theoway hails from Garraway in the southern county of Grand Kru. He is married to Mrs. Grace Badu-Theoway, and their union is blessed with beautiful children.