GOMPA CITY, NIMBA COUNTY, LIBERIA – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has declared the National Infrastructure Conference officially open, warning that Liberia’s deteriorated infrastructure remains a major constraint on economic growth, social progress, and national confidence, and requires deliberate and coordinated action to reverse years of decay.
Speaking Monday, January 19, 2026, in Gompa City, Nimba County, at the opening of the high-level conference, President Boakai said the gathering was conceived out of his “deep concern over the visible deterioration and unsightly state of our national infrastructure,” which he described as a lingering legacy of Liberia’s years of conflict.
Addressing government officials, lawmakers, development partners, diplomats, private sector actors, academics, and traditional leaders, the President noted that the conference had been nearly two years in the making and was designed to set a clear direction for how Liberia intends to shape its future infrastructure landscape.
President Boakai emphasized that infrastructure development must go beyond physical structures, stressing that it is fundamentally about people and national dignity. Quoting Indian politician Rahul Gandhi, he said, “A rising tide does not lift those who have no boat. We have to build the boat for them,” underscoring the need for basic infrastructure to enable citizens to benefit from economic growth.
He further cited former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, stating, “You and I come by road or rail, but economists travel on infrastructure,” to reinforce the central role infrastructure plays in economic planning, productivity, and long-term development.
According to President Boakai, Liberia’s infrastructure crisis is evident across the country, with roads in severe disrepair, public buildings decaying, unreliable electricity supply, and limited access to safe water, sanitation, and adequate housing. He said these conditions have imposed daily hardship on citizens while severely constraining economic expansion.
The President said the National Infrastructure Conference is intended to facilitate an honest national conversation that confronts these realities directly, identifies critical gaps, and charts a clear path toward rebuilding smarter and better. “Our purpose is not simply to repair what is broken,” he said, “but to design infrastructure that improves lives and restores dignity.”
Reflecting on Liberia’s post-conflict history, President Boakai said years of civil war destroyed infrastructure that once symbolized national pride, leaving visible scars across the country. However, he noted that these challenges also present an opportunity to rebuild in a more resilient and forward-looking manner.
“We must build back and build better,” the President declared, explaining that future infrastructure must be competitive globally, resilient to climate change, capable of generating jobs, stimulating industry, and promoting inclusive growth with no one left behind.
President Boakai linked the conference directly to his administration’s ARREST Agenda, stating that infrastructure development remains a cornerstone of his government’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable national development. He said the approach must align with Africa’s Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
He warned against fragmented interventions and short-term fixes, calling instead for coordinated systems that harness modern technology and innovation to serve both present and future generations of Liberians.
According to the President, the moment demands readiness from Liberia’s institutions, policies, and leadership, describing the conference as a national call to action rather than a ceremonial event.
As he concluded his address, President Boakai quoted former U.S. President John F. Kennedy, saying, “American roads are not good because America is rich, but America is rich because American roads are good,” adding that Liberia’s prosperity will similarly depend on the quality of its infrastructure.
President Boakai thanked the Ministry of Public Works, development partners, and stakeholders at home and abroad for organizing the conference and formally declared the National Infrastructure Conference open, expressing optimism that it would mark a turning point in Liberia’s infrastructure development journey.
