Monrovia, Liberia – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr. has warned that his administration must go beyond plans and rhetoric to produce real results under the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID), citing poor performance and implementation delays. President Boakai called for increased responsibility, prompt execution of development initiatives, and prudent use of public funds, threatening to dismiss officials who don’t perform.
The President made the statement on Tuesday, August 11, at the National Steering Committee Meeting on AAID, which was held at the Monrovia City Hall. Partners and government representatives discussed the difficulties and achievements in carrying out the national development plan. Citing implementation gaps, delays, and institutional bottlenecks, Boakai stated, “We must be honest with ourselves that the accomplishments have not been consistent.” He warned against low performance and absenteeism and put government institutions “on notice” to carry out planned sector initiatives right away.
“With all due respect, we have to ask you to move elsewhere when we see that people are not measuring up,” Boakai stated. Progress needs to be monitored. Transparency in the reporting of results is required. Corrective action must be made in cases where implementation is deficient, he added. The President stated that performance, not personal ties, should be the basis for selections and ongoing government employment. If you are a leader, it depends on how well you perform. Don’t invite people into your office just because they are friends, family, or someone you can relate to. “Achievement is what you want,” he stated.
The discussion examined how the AAID has been implemented since its inception on January 15, 2025, with an emphasis on improvements, gaps that still exist, and steps that must be taken to expedite delivery. According to Boakai, his administration is dedicated to transforming the development plan into changes that the public can observe and experience. He said, “We promised the Liberian people that we would go beyond plans. Our goal is to provide measurable outcomes. Boost means of survival. Better roads are what we want to drive on. Our goal is to have access to higher-quality water.”
According to the President, significant improvements have been made in the last 12 months to improve institutional coordination and coordinating national initiatives with the government’s development aims. He acknowledged the private sector, civic society, government ministries and agencies, development partners, and Liberians living abroad for their contributions to the agenda’s execution. Boakai stated that despite progress, more effort is needed to resolve institutional flaws and implementation delays.
He listed sectors that needed ongoing attention, including the creation of jobs and better access to infrastructure, healthcare, telecommunications, water, education, and security. Additionally, Boakai insisted that public funds must be used for national development and warned public enterprises and other government institutions against utilizing state resources for private gain.
He stated that all of those resources are for the growth of this nation. Every dollar needs to be handled with the utmost honesty. The President also insisted that ministries, agencies, and development partners provide timely and accurate reports, stating that correct data is essential for gaging the effectiveness of the administration. We can’t properly gage development without precise, current data, according to Boakai.
He threatened to take action against noncompliant institutions and warned that persistent delays, inconsistent reporting, and incomplete reports would no longer be tolerated. He claims that in order to enhance real-time monitoring of projects and programs under the AAID, the government plans to fortify its data infrastructure.
In order to minimize redundancy and optimize impact, Boakai also called for more cooperation with development partners and asked them to match their efforts with Liberia’s national priorities. He described civil society organizations as crucial partners and a link between the public and the government, and he urged the corporate sector to take advantage of AAID’s investment, innovation, and industrialization prospects.
The President earlier urged Liberians to assume more responsibility for the nation’s progress, arguing that the government cannot be solely responsible for national transformation. Everything needed to create life here is abundant. He answered, “We have to do it ourselves.” He challenged public officials and institutions to perform better while urging residents to show personal responsibility, which includes keeping towns clean. Boakai stated, “We think this is a very important gathering that is good for the country, good for all of us.” Your presence here demonstrates your dedication to and passion for the nation’s advancement.
