MONROVIA – As the Legislature reconvenes for its final sitting of 2025, Senator Amara Mohammed Konneh of Gbarpolu County has outlined an ambitious reform agenda aimed at strengthening accountability, restoring public trust, and modernizing governance across Liberia. In a detailed statement issued on Monday, October 21, 2025, Senator Konneh reaffirmed his commitment to what he called “a new standard of responsibility and reform-minded leadership” in the Liberian Senate.
“I am happy to be back to work,” Konneh declared. “As the Legislature convenes for its last sitting in 2025, I reaffirm my commitment to advancing reforms that strengthen accountability, modernize our institutions, protect our citizens, and provide them with the enabling environment to create and thrive. Liberia cannot afford to continue with ‘business as usual.’”
The senator lamented Liberia’s persistent culture of weak governance and inefficiency, citing the absence of a proper regulatory framework in key sectors, a lack of accountability in healthcare, and ongoing concerns about public safety. He emphasized that too many partnerships between the public and private sectors operate without due process, while families continue to suffer preventable tragedies caused by negligence and poor corporate practices.
Among his top legislative priorities is the introduction of a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Act. Konneh stressed that although Liberia has entered into numerous PPP agreements over the years, the absence of a legal framework has led to misuse of public resources. “Every PPP must serve the Liberian people and not private interests,” he said. “This law will enforce transparency, establish clear rules, and guarantee value for money.”
Konneh also announced plans to introduce a Medical Malpractice Accountability Bill aimed at protecting patients and restoring trust in Liberia’s healthcare system. “Too many lives are lost or permanently harmed due to negligence and malpractice, with no recourse for victims or their families,” he noted. “This bill will strengthen professional standards, establish oversight mechanisms, and provide compensation for victims.”
On public safety, Konneh said he intends to pursue Police Reform and Public Safety legislation in collaboration with the Defence, Security, and Intelligence Committee and the Executive branch. “Trust between law enforcement and the public has remained fragile in the 22 years since our conflict ended,” he said. He proposed equipping officers with non-lethal tools and enhancing de-escalation training to reduce fatal encounters while improving accountability and protection for both officers and citizens.
The senator also raised alarms over the state of budget credibility and fiscal management, citing Liberia’s growing debt and persistent off-budget expenditures. “Liberia’s total debt stock now stands at approximately US$2.7 billion, about 57 percent of our GDP, as of mid-2025,” Konneh said. “This is alarming because the government’s domestic borrowing crowds out private sector investment.” He referenced a recent General Auditing Commission (GAC) report that rejected 88 percent of domestic debt claims due to missing documentation and unsupported payment requests.
Konneh pledged to work with both the Legislature and the Executive to ensure that budget execution aligns with legislative approval, stressing that “irregularities in debt management raise serious questions about accountability and erode public trust.”
The senator further welcomed President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s submission of legislation on State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) reform, pledging to collaborate with his colleagues to strengthen and enact corporate governance laws. “These standards will help ensure the diversity, competency, and integrity of those in corporate leadership and safeguard the stability of our institutions,” he said, adding that sound corporate governance is key to attracting investment and sustaining economic growth.
Regionally, Konneh revealed plans to collaborate with the Western Region Legislative Caucus to advance the Western Liberia Development Agenda, which aligns with President Boakai’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development. He confirmed that the plan has been presented to the President, who has tasked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with coordinating resource mobilization across relevant executive agencies.
On local matters, Konneh said he will engage stakeholders in Gbarpolu County to discuss the relocation of the burial site of the late King Sao Boso Kamara, an effort he believes will promote reconciliation among local leaders and citizens. He also vowed to confront the growing environmental degradation caused by “the proliferation of Chinese and other foreign miners,” which, he said, “is polluting our primary water sources and threatening community livelihoods.”
Concluding his statement, Senator Konneh called on Liberians across all sectors to rally around the shared vision of institutional reform and accountability. “These priorities reflect my conviction that Liberia must build institutions that protect lives, responsibly steward resources, and deliver justice,” he asserted. “I call on my colleagues in government, the private sector, civil society, and the public to join me in shaping laws that reflect our values and meet the urgent needs of our nation.”
He ended on an optimistic note, pledging, “I look forward to continuing to transform Liberia with you.”
