By By: Alphanso G. Kalama;
Congo Town, Monrovia – In a rousing keynote address delivered at the EJS Ministerial Complex this morning, His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., President of the Republic of Liberia, issued a clarion call for unity, innovation, and international cooperation to drive Liberia’s ambitious national transformation agenda — the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID).
Speaking to a gathering of cabinet members, international diplomats, development partners, private sector leaders, civil society representatives, and members of the Liberian diaspora, President Boakai framed the AAID as not merely a roadmap but a national call to action. “This agenda embodies our shared aspirations for a prosperous, inclusive, and equitable Liberia,” he declared, as he laid bare the country’s stark developmental challenges — from out-of-school children and unemployed youth to entrenched gender disparities and under-resourced institutions.
“Transformative change is no longer optional,” Boakai emphasized. “It is a pressing necessity.”
The President spotlighted the AAID’s six strategic pillars — Agriculture, Roads (Infrastructure), Rule of Law and Governance, Education, Sanitation and Health, and Tourism — as the guiding framework for Liberia’s growth over the next five years. But implementing the plan carries a formidable price tag: $8.4 billion.
With global development financing increasingly uncertain, President Boakai acknowledged the enormity of the challenge ahead but underscored the power of unity and innovation. “We must rethink, retool, and rebuild. But we cannot do it alone,” he said, urging Liberia’s development partners to go beyond short-term peacebuilding and tackle the roots of underdevelopment.
He welcomed the objectives of the retreat — enhancing strategic partnerships and exploring innovative financing — as a timely and vital moment in Liberia’s path forward. “We build a better foundation of peace when we build an economy that creates jobs, provides income, and delivers services to the people,” Boakai said to applause.
In a bid to galvanize support across all sectors, the President pledged his administration’s unwavering commitment to collaboration: from empowering the banking sector and private investors, to strengthening civil society oversight and deepening cooperation with international institutions.
“Our country is richly endowed,” he concluded. “By sharing a common vision and fostering a collaborative spirit, we can realize the ultimate goal of the ARREST Agenda — inclusive growth and development.”
As Liberia stands at a critical junction, today’s address marks a significant step in forging the partnerships needed to turn a bold vision into a shared national reality. The world, it seems, is watching — and so are the Liberian people.
