Liberian President Boakai Warns Officials Over Delays in Development Agenda

MONROVIA

Liberian President Joseph Boakai has warned government officials that delays, inconsistent performance and implementation gaps will no longer be tolerated as his administration pushes to deliver on its national development agenda.

Boakai issued the warning Tuesday during a meeting of the National Steering Committee reviewing the first year of implementation of the government’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID).

“Our promise to the Liberian people was to move beyond plans,” Boakai said, according to a statement from the presidency. “We have seen and heard a lot of rhetoric. We want to deliver tangible results improving livelihoods.”

The president said his administration had pledged improvements in roads, water, health care, education and employment. While acknowledging progress during the past year, he cited delays, institutional bottlenecks and gaps in execution and called for corrective action.

Boakai also warned officials that failure to meet performance expectations could cost them their positions.

He urged government institutions to emphasize competence and results when making appointments and implementing programs.

The president identified education, health care, telecommunications, water security, infrastructure and job creation as areas requiring sustained investment.

He also ordered ministries, agencies and other institutions implementing AAID programs to submit timely and accurate reports.

“Timely reporting is non-negotiable,” Boakai said, adding that repeated delays, inconsistencies and incomplete submissions would be unacceptable.

Boakai also cautioned against misuse of public resources, saying funds controlled by public corporations and government institutions should be directed toward national development priorities.

He called for greater coordination among the government, development partners, businesses, civil society groups and Liberians in the diaspora, saying the country’s development goals could not be achieved by the government alone.

What is Liberia’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development?

The ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, or AAID, is Liberia’s national development plan for 2025-2029 and the fourth such medium-term plan adopted since the end of the country’s civil war. Its overarching goal is to help move Liberia from a low-income to a lower-middle-income country.

ARREST stands for Agriculture, Roads, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation and Tourism. The broader AAID is organized around six development pillars: economic transformation, infrastructure development, rule of law, governance and anti-corruption, environmental sustainability and human capital development.

The government estimates that implementing the plan will cost $8.38 billion through 2029. Liberia is expected to provide about 30% of the financing, while the government anticipates the remainder will come from the private sector, development assistance, nongovernmental organizations and diaspora resources.

Among the plan’s targets are paving at least 485 kilometers, or about 301 miles, of primary roads, reducing travel time by 60% and transportation costs by 30%, and raising adult literacy to 62.8%. The plan also targets average annual economic growth of 5.9% and gross domestic product per capita of about $1,050.

The AAID contains 52 programs and 375 interventions and is aligned with Liberia’s Vision 2030 as well as international and regional development frameworks, including the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

Implementation is overseen through a multilevel structure headed by the National Steering Committee, which is led by Boakai and deputized by the U.N. resident coordinator. The committee is expected to provide policy guidance and oversight and meet twice a year.