Boakai Tells Mano River Union Countries
Monrovia, Liberia – Stronger working relationships amongst the Mano River Union Countries are vital, as highlighted by President Joseph N. Boakai, President of the Republic of Liberia. The President claimed that the problems faced by all Mano River Countries are identical, as are their remedies.
President Boakai said that if all the Mano River Union’s member nations collaborate, share knowledge, and safeguard the future of the organization, they will have a stronger union and a stronger West Africa. He made this statement while giving the keynote address on Monday, July 22, 2024, at the High-level meeting of Mano River union countries composed of foreign ministers and ministers of finance, defense, and stakeholders at the EJS Ministerial Complex Congo Town, Liberia.
“Our problems are identical, and so are our answers. A robust union member contributes to the union’s strength. We will have a stronger union and a stronger West Africa if we all work together, share knowledge, and safeguard our destiny, the president declared.
The head of Liberia disclosed that the Union was established as a customs union in October 1973 by Sierra Leone and Liberia; Guinea and Cote d’Ivoire joined in 1980 and 2008, respectively.
According to him, the Union’s goals are to create conditions that facilitate the growth of mutual productive capacity, expand trade by removing all trade barriers, collaborate in fostering international trade, gradually develop a common protective policy, and work together to create new productive capacity in order to ensure equitable distribution of the advantages of economic cooperation for the benefit of all Union citizens.
Concrete measures were taken to liberalize trade in accordance with these goals, including the removal of trade barriers, the harmonisation of import duty rates, development cooperation in the production of locally produced manufactured and agricultural goods, and the establishment of institutions for capacity building in the maritime, forestry, customs, and telecommunications sectors. According to Boakai, “citizens of the member states were also financed under the union to secure training in the member states’ higher institutions to boost the capacity of the public sector.”
The protracted civil violence that gripped the subregion, according to the President, destroyed all of those advances. According to him, the May 2008 Summit of the Union’s Heads of State and Government decided to revive the Union Secretariat in order to carry out the Union’s mandate, with an emphasis on reviving the Secretariat’s capabilities, maintaining peace and security, particularly along the member states’ borders, and promoting regional integration and economic growth.
Since then, two strategic plans with the focal areas acting as pillars have been developed, according to President Boakai. The President declared, “Monday’s dialogue as the beginning of the renewal of such a commitment to the growth and success of the Union,” in reference to the Mano River Union summit.
“We are aware of the obstacles to our development and the current and developing socio-political, economic, and environmental problems we face,” he continued.
In order to help them chart a new and realistic course that will enable countries to fulfill their objectives through their Secretariat, the Liberian leader urged all participants, including development partners, to be open and forthright during the meeting.
“May the Good Lord lead and sustain our Union, and I want to wish you all a very fruitful deliberations,” Boakai said.
