Capitol Hill, Monrovia – President Joseph N. Boakai has called on his Cabinet to accelerate the government’s centrepiece development plan, cautioning that greater responsibility, coordination, and oversight are necessary to provide Liberians with noticeable outcomes.
The call was made on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, during the ongoing Cabinet discussions at the Tea House of the Executive Mansion, where ministers examined developments in several important areas of the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID), the administration’s primary framework for social development, economic recovery, and governance reforms.
President Boakai opened the conference by emphasising the importance of shared accountability within the government and reminding Cabinet members that successful cooperation across ministries and agencies is essential to the accomplishment of the national development plan.
Cabinet discussions focused on three remaining pillars of the ARREST Agenda: Governance and Anti-Corruption, Environmental Sustainability, and Human Capital Development. Addressing governance changes, the Cabinet observed gains in public sector accountability, such as a rise in national audit coverage from 61 percent to 65 percent in 2025 and more robust execution of audit recommendations. Additionally, ministers examined ongoing institutional evaluations of several government institutions with the goal of enhancing efficiency and fortifying mandates.
The Cabinet was also briefed on decentralised activities aimed at strengthening local governance, such as the creation of county development units, the deployment of county service coordinators, and the creation of laws to implement the Revenue Sharing Law. To improve county-level fiscal control, the government is also thinking of creating County Treasury Fiscal Boards.
With environmental sustainability, the Cabinet reviewed advancements in natural resource protection and climate resilience. While plans are in motion for a nationwide tree-planting campaign aimed at restoring damaged forest regions with two million trees, the Environmental Protection Agency reported mobilising climate finance to assist coastal resilience and renewable energy programs.
In addition, ministers expressed support for raising the number of forest rangers and acknowledged rising worries about the increased use of heavy mining equipment in forest zones. They also stressed the need for tougher enforcement measures to protect Liberia’s natural resources.
Sanitation and energy access were also emphasised, and the government promised to look into further financial assistance for the Liberian electrical Corporation in order to maintain the country’s electrical supply. Additionally, the cabinet promised to assist the Monrovia City Corporation’s sanitation campaign, which includes trash management initiatives at the Wehn Town disposal site and continuous cleanup work along Center Street.
The ministries in charge of youth development, women, health, and education gave updates on the human capital sector. In order to guarantee adherence to national standards, officials claimed more funding for educational initiatives, including the building of new schools and more stringent regulation of school operating permits.
Speaking at the event, the Ministry of Gender emphasised increased services for victims of gender-based violence, scholarships for girls at risk, and social cash transfer programs that help thousands of households, while the Ministry of Health reported improvements in the availability of necessary medications at public health facilities.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports reported progress in youth empowerment initiatives, including training programs in agriculture, vocational skills, and entrepreneurship.
President Boakai underscored the significance of tackling cross-cutting issues impacting national development during the discussions. These include enforcing quality standards in schools, strengthening control of youth programs, enhancing restaurant and health facility inspection systems, and more effectively coordinating development aid from foreign partners.
The President emphasised that the government must transform policy commitments into observable improvements in citizens’ lives and urged ministries and agencies to expedite the implementation of programs under the ARREST Agenda.
The ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, which authorities defined as the government’s main plan for fostering inclusive economic growth, bolstering institutions, and raising living conditions throughout Liberia, was confirmed by the Cabinet.
In the upcoming weeks, a thorough first-year status report on the ARREST Agenda is anticipated to be released by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning.
Photo credit: Executive Mansion
