MONROVIA – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai on Thursday made a clarion call for renewed commitment and bold collaboration between the Liberian government and its development partners to successfully implement the country’s ambitious five-year National Development Plan, the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID), with a projected cost of nearly US$8.4 billion.
Speaking at a high-level retreat at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town on Thursday, April 17, 2025, President Boakai emphasized that the realization of Liberia’s long-term growth and transformation depends on strong, strategic partnerships, innovative financing, and a united national front.
“Our challenges are intricate and multi-dimensional,” President Boakai said, referencing the staggering number of children out of school, rising youth unemployment, widespread drug addiction, and the socio-economic vulnerabilities of women and girls. “The urgency for intervention could not be more apparent.”
The President stressed that Liberia must “rethink and retool” in response to not just internal limitations but also the shifting global funding landscape. He underscored that while the government bears primary responsibility for the execution of the AAID, its success hinges on cooperation among international partners, private sector actors, civil society groups, and the Liberian people.
The six pillars of the plan, which include Agriculture, Roads (Infrastructure), Rule of Law and Governance, Education, Sanitation and Health, and Tourism, were presented as the foundation of Liberia’s transformation. President Boakai highlighted that tangible progress will require aligning efforts and resources, enhancing capacity, promoting innovation, and most importantly, rebuilding public trust through transparency and accountability.
“This retreat comes at an appropriate time,” Boakai told representatives from the diplomatic corps, donor institutions, and Liberian officials in attendance. “We warmly welcome the objectives to enhance strategic partnership and explore innovative financing for the seamless implementation of the AAID.”
He urged development partners to shift their focus toward addressing the root causes of Liberia’s developmental hurdles rather than offering short-term peacebuilding interventions. “We build a better foundation of peace when we build an economy that creates jobs, provides income, and delivers services to the people,” he said.
President Boakai reaffirmed his administration’s full commitment to inclusive governance and encouraged the private sector to invest in development-aligned ventures. He also called on civil society to act not only as watchdogs but as collaborators in ensuring transparency and accountability.
As the government directs an uncertain international funding climate, the President maintained that Liberia’s natural wealth, if leveraged through collective action, could support creative financing strategies and robust local resource mobilization.
“We can realize the ultimate goal of the ARREST Agenda, inclusive growth and development, by sharing a common vision and fostering a collaborative spirit,” Boakai concluded, thanking the United Nations and other development partners for joining Liberia on what he described as a transformative journey toward a brighter and more equitable future.
