Monrovia, Liberia – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has only kept less then 10% of his 126 campaign pledges, according to a new research by Naymote Partners for Democratic Development, which calls on the administration to work more to fulfill its obligations.
At a press conference on Wednesday, February 12, 2024, in Paynesville, Naymote’s Executive Director, Mr. Eddie D. Jarwolo, presented the One-Year Performance Report. He revealed that just five (5) of the president’s 126 campaign pledges had been fulfilled, or only 4% of the total. He pointed out that measures for youth empowerment and governance are at the heart of these fulfilled commitments.
Mr. Jarwolo added that the study examines the Unity Party-led government’s work from January to December 2024 under the President Meter Project (Boakai Meter). The study states that while 22 promises (17.5%) have not yet been started, suggesting gaps in execution, 80 promises (63.5%) are still in progress, reflecting active efforts across several sectors. Furthermore, because of restricted access to information from pertinent government agencies, 19 promises (15%) are still unrated.
Jarwolo added that the report assesses government pledges in relation to the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development’s (AAID) six thematic pillars.
Naymote tracked 72 promises under Pillar One: Macroeconomic Stability and Infrastructure, of which two were completed and 45 were still pending. Under Pillar Two: Health, WASH, Environment, and Climate Change, 11 pledges were monitored, 10 of which are continuing, with none completed.
None of the 13 pledges Naymote listed for Pillar Three: Human Capacity Development have been fulfilled. We monitored 15 pledges under Pillar Four: Governance and Rule of Law, two of which were fulfilled.
One commitment was fulfilled and seven were still pending under Pillar Five: Gender, Youth, Children, and Social Protection. At the same time, five commitments were monitored under Pillar Six: The Fight Against Corruption; none of them have been fulfilled.
Mr. Jarwolo said, “Our report is not meant to police the government, but to remind it of its commitments and the need to deliver on its promises.”
He noted that the Boakai-Koung government has made progress with 80 promises currently in effect, but emphasized that many of these pledges are general and devoid of specifics.
He pointed out that just 14 of the 34 government institutions contacted responded to Naymote’s inquiries, highlighting issues with transparency. Jarwolo also praised the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) for providing timely and accurate information, some of which was included in President Boakai’s State of the Nation Address (SONA).
“Most of these promises are ongoing because they were generally stated,” he said. “For example, if you say, ‘I want to improve healthcare,’ it is not quantified.”
In order to ensure government accountability, Mr. Jarwolo urged the government to prioritize investments in education, healthcare, and anti-corruption initiatives while encouraging greater citizen engagement.
The report acknowledges the administration’s efforts in economic stability, infrastructure development, and youth empowerment, but also highlights the slow pace of implementation in crucial sectors like education, healthcare, and anti-corruption measures.
Naymote Partners for Democratic Development has made a number of recommendations to improve governance and accountability in Liberia.
The Boakai-Koung government’s lack of transparency, ineffective bureaucracy, and postponed policy changes were some of the main issues mentioned. In order to ensure that ongoing projects move from in-progress to completed initiatives, Jarwolo emphasized the necessity for the Boakai administration to speed their execution.
He pointed out that this report is an essential tool for policymakers, civil society, and the media to promote inclusive development and better governance as Liberia continues its democratic journey. He called on the Boakai administration to use the results to promote policy improvements and accelerate national growth.
