In a historic inaugural message, President Joseph Boakai called on the citizens of Liberia to unite in the face of challenges and work together to build a more inclusive and accountable society. The inauguration ceremony, held at the Capitol, was attended by a host of dignitaries, including the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Danqua Akuffo Addo, President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, Vice President of China, Han Zheng, former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, and the U.S. Permanent Representatives to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, among others.
President Boakai began by acknowledging the significance of the 2023 election, emphasizing Liberia’s evolution into a democratic dispensation with inclusive governance as its guiding principle. He credited ordinary Liberians for contributing to the democratic dividend that has positively impacted national, regional, and global peace.
“We can now begin to build Liberia into the solid bridge across the continents it was originally envisioned to be,” President Boakai declared.
Highlighting the high expectations set by the political campaign, Boakai acknowledged the stark realities facing the nation, including dysfunction, a culture of impunity, and corruption. He assured the public that his administration would act decisively within the first hundred days to address these challenges and pursue a dedicated rescue mission.
“I have come to rekindle hope, to reposition us on our national pathway,” Boakai stated, emphasizing the need for inclusive and accountable governance and the restoration of hope and dignity to the Liberian people.
Reflecting on Liberia’s history, President Boakai expressed gratitude to his predecessors, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and President George Weah, recognizing their contributions to the nation. He stressed the importance of building upon strengths and correcting shortcomings.
The Nation’s Future
Addressing the nation’s future, Boakai called for a recalibration, urging citizens to focus on the positive aspects of Liberia and engage in a “national conversation” facilitated by social media. He emphasized the need to restore inclusivity, transparency, and accountability at all levels of society.
According to him, his administration’s agenda would focus on national renewal, setting broad goals for improved governance, economic development, infrastructure rebuilding, and enhanced social services. The new President pledged to combat the drug epidemic, address crimes and security, and empower the people in decision-making processes.
Acknowledging Liberia’s divided society, President Boakai called for unity in nation-building, emphasizing the need to overcome historical narratives, ethnicity, and exclusion. He extended a hand of cooperation to political opponents, pledging to be the President for all Liberians.
“There is no contest between ‘Green Liberia’ and ‘Blue Liberia’, ‘Southeastern Liberia’ and ‘North Central Liberia’. There is only one LIBERIA! We share a common CITIZENSHIP!” President Boakai said.
Transforming the Future
President Boakai urged Liberians to seize the moment and embark on a transformative journey to address the multifaceted challenges facing the nation and shape a new Liberia for future generations.
“Today, history has given us a moment that we must seize for course correction and the molding of a new mindset. That moment begins now,” President Boakai said.
The President recognized the existential threats posed by a war-ravaged past, economic mismanagement, social issues, and security concerns. He highlighted the urgency of addressing these challenges, emphasizing the need for immediate action.
“Unemployment is high, livelihoods are poor, and many working citizens hardly have a livable income as the cost of living keeps escalating,” President Boakai noted.
Boakai also acknowledged the various challenges within the education system, environmental degradation, suboptimal healthcare delivery, limited food access, and infrastructure deficiencies and concerns over the drug epidemic, youth problems, and the deteriorating state of security.
Despite these challenges, the President acknowledged the progress made in democracy, institutional reforms, and the maintenance of peace after the war. However, he stressed the need for economic progress that aligns with Liberia’s potential and promise.
“In our hands now lies the opportunity to build a new Liberia, the Liberia we all want,” President Boakai said, highlighting the country’s natural endowments, including rich resources, biodiversity, and a young and dynamic population.
He underscored the importance of exploiting Liberia’s human and material resources optimally for the benefit of all citizens. He pointed to the country’s potential to unlock doors to development through judicious exploitation of natural resources, protection of its environment, and harnessing the demographic dividend of a young population.
The ARREST Agenda
President Boakai elaborated on his vision for Liberia’s development, unveiling the ARREST agenda – an acronym representing Agriculture, Roads, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation, and Tourism. The President detailed his plans to leverage these key sectors to arrest and reverse years of economic downturn, emphasizing the need for comprehensive and interconnected development strategies.
“Agriculture must be the key driver of our economy and potentially of national development,” President Boakai said, highlighting the sector’s significance in providing livelihoods for over 50 percent of the population and contributing substantially to the country’s GDP. The This, he said, would be focused on incentives, technology application, and interventions across the value chain to enhance food self-sufficiency, stimulate economic transformation, and alleviate poverty.
He emphasized the need for substantial investment in road connectivity. “The building of good roads is a critical intervention for economic growth and national development,” he stated, underscoring the importance of roads in connecting people, enhancing
President Boakai pledged to improve transparency, accountability, and openness to promote good governance. He emphasized the fight against corruption, announcing the establishment of an office to explore the feasibility of a War and Economic Crimes Court (WECC) to address war crimes and crimes against humanity.
“We have decided to set up an office to explore the feasibility for the establishment of War and Economic Crimes Court (WECC) to provide an opportunity for those who bear the greatest responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity to account for their actions in court. An estimated quarter of a million of our people perished in the war. We cannot forever remain unmoved by this searing national tragedy without closure,” President Boakai said.
The President expressed a commitment to resetting the fight against corruption and impunity and seeking advice from the United Nations Secretary General to ensure compliance with international standards if the WECC is deemed feasible.
Education also featured prominently in President Boakai’s agenda, with a call to rethink and retool the educational system. The ARREST agenda includes investments in vocational training, science education, and technological training to support workforce development, entrepreneurship, and a knowledge-based economy.