Ladies and Gentlemen:
It is a great pleasure to welcome you this morning to the Commissioning program for cabinet members and other officials recently confirmed by the Senate and officially appointed by me to work for the Liberian people.
As you may be aware, this program is a culmination of the process of setting up the government, having identified individuals to play respective roles in the governing of our country.
Although we would have liked to have the full complement of heads of ministries, agencies, and commissions for this event, we are nevertheless delighted to commission some of the country’s experienced and dedicated women and men to start full service for the citizens.
Ladies and gentlemen,
When we officially took office, we informed the country and the world that the “business- as – as usual” approach to government would be a relic of the past for this administration, and we mean it. This is why we expect nothing less than the ministers, heads of agencies, and advisors to be commissioned today, and the others to follow later, to execute the mandate of their respective offices and perform their duties efficiently and selflessly for the public good.
The cabinet as the highest decision-making body of the government must perform at the highest level, delivering on the government’s priorities to achieve the developmental agenda we have set for the next six years.
We will expect ministers and heads of agencies to demonstrate their capabilities and competencies in achieving our goals, including the execution of immediate interventions in the 100-day deliverable plan.
As the government spans the three branches, we do not intend to pursue this development path without productive engagements with the other bodies. We, therefore, expect the legislature and the judiciary to do their part by fully working with us to improve the lives of our citizens.
To ensure productivity, we will work with others on a key project – the Performance Management Compliance System – to help improve performance and encourage an open, transparent and accountable government. Integral to this is the requirement that every cabinet minister and head of agency signs a performance contract as a way of not only ensuring that deliverables are met but also enhancing efficiency within the government.
In addition, I am mandating all officials of government to immediately declare their assets to comply with anti-graft regulations as required, and more importantly, ensure the promotion of integrity in public service.
Let it be known that we will not tolerate corruption and pilferage from the people’s coffers, as those found to be in breach of our anti-graft laws will give account and pay the price. As they say, a hint to the wise is enough.
We will be monitoring your performance against the targets you will set and hold you accountable. Monitoring will not only be within as we intend to support any mechanism that will ensure that citizens follow closely as well, to form part of the decision-making process. In this regard, the Citizens Feedback Mechanism Project, piloted in five counties will be activated and implemented across the country.
Fellow citizens, public service is not an entitlement; it is an opportunity to give back to your country and your fellow citizens. To those about to be commissioned today, your compatriots have entrusted you with a responsibility to deliver the service they need. It is, therefore, incumbent upon you to give it everything by putting your talent and energy into what, frankly, has been described as the sweetest fruit of all -service.
You must rise above the privilege and trappings of your official roles and find fulfillment in the joy of genuinely transforming your country. I desire to see you carry out your responsibilities with the utmost professionalism and compassion as we together think Liberia, Love Liberia, and Build Liberia.
May God bless the work of our hands and save our country.
Thank you.
