By By: Alphanso G. Kalama,
Email: alphansokalama@gmail.com
Monrovia, Liberia — Joseph Nyumah Boakai, inaugurated as Liberia’s 26th President on January 22, 2024, has completed just 3% of the promises made during his campaign, according to a report released by Naymote, a governance monitoring organization. The findings reflect a mixed start to Boakai’s six-year term, raising questions about the effectiveness of his administration’s early efforts.
Boakai, who campaigned under the slogan “Think Liberia, Love Liberia, Build Liberia,” emphasized economic reforms, infrastructure development, anti-corruption measures, and public service improvement. His promises were detailed in the Unity Party’s ARREST Agenda, which focuses on Agriculture, Roads, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation, and Tourism.
In total, Boakai made 119 commitments during his campaign. Naymote’s analysis reveals that, as of August 2024, only three of these promises have been fully realized. Of the remaining commitments, 70 are currently in progress, 17 have yet to be initiated, and 29 remain unrated.
The ARREST Agenda encompasses six key areas:
- Macroeconomic Stability & Infrastructure Development: 67 promises
- Health, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), Environment, and Climate Change: 12 promises
- Human Capacity Development: 11 promises
- Governance and Rule of Law: 16 promises
- Gender, Youth, Children, and Social Protection: 9 promises
- Fight Against Corruption: 4 promises
The 2023 presidential election saw a significant voter turnout of 78.86% in the first round, leading to a runoff on November 14, 2023, where Boakai narrowly defeated incumbent George Weah with 50.64% of the vote.
Born on November 30, 1944, Boakai is a veteran politician, having served as Vice President from 2006 to 2018. His political journey includes a previous bid for the presidency in 2017, which ended in defeat against Weah. Following his election victory in 2023, many viewed Boakai’s return to power as a potential turning point for Liberia.
The early performance assessment poses a challenge for Boakai as he navigates the complexities of governance and public expectations. With 70 commitments underway, the focus now shifts to the administration’s ability to fulfill its promises in the coming months, amidst growing calls for transparency and accountability from citizens and civil society organizations.
As Liberia moves forward under Boakai’s leadership, the success of his administration will likely hinge on its responsiveness to the pressing issues highlighted during his campaign and the tangible outcomes of its ongoing initiatives.
