‘Join National Renewal Efforts’ -Boakai Calls on Diaspora Liberians at Washington Confab

MONROVIA – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. has called on the Liberian diaspora to join hands with the government in rebuilding and transforming the country.

Speaking at the inaugural Liberia Annual Diaspora Conference in Washington D.C., United States of America last Friday, President Boakai emphasized the critical role the diaspora community can play in shaping Liberia’s future.

“The Liberian diaspora remains a vital force in our collective effort to build a more equitable, inclusive, and prosperous Liberia,” President Boakai said. “Your continued engagement is more vital than ever. We need your skills, networks, knowledge, and resources to drive change at home.”

The conference, themed “Building the Future Together: Reconciliation, National Healing, Growth, and Prosperity,” brought together Liberians from across the globe to discuss key issues affecting the country and explore ways to collaborate on national development.

President Boakai outlined his administration’s priorities, including governance reform, economic transformation, and social inclusion.

“We must work together to build a functional and inclusive society,” President Boakai said. “We need to confront our past honestly and dismantle the systemic inequalities that have undermined national unity.”

He emphasized the importance of decentralized governance, local empowerment, and citizen participation in decision-making processes.

The President highlighted his administration’s efforts to address Liberia’s complex social and economic challenges through the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development. This agenda focuses on six critical pillars: Agriculture, Roads, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation, Tourism, and Technology.

“We are committed to improving livelihoods and ensuring that every Liberian, both at home and abroad, can share in the growth and progress that our reform agenda and national development plan will bring,” President Boakai said.

He also emphasized the need for economic transformation, stating that Liberia’s economy must be inclusive and work for everyone, stating that “we need to reconsider the concession regime and focus on adding value, promoting local ownership, and investing in agriculture, where the majority of our people, especially women and youth, are actively engaged.”

The President called on the diaspora community to lend their voices to reconciliation and national healing, just as they participated in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) process.

“We may build the infrastructure and the superstructures, but without true reconciliation and healing, all those will come crashing down under the weight of divisions and conflicts,” he warned.

As the diaspora community deliberates on the future of Liberia, President Boakai urged them to seize the moment and contribute to the country’s renewal. “Your country needs you now more than ever,” he said. “Let us renew our national commitment to Think Liberia, Love Liberia, and Build Liberia.”

The Liberia Annual Diaspora Conference is expected to become an annual platform for engagement, policy dialogue, and partnership between the government and the diaspora community.

By working together, President Boakai believes that Liberians can build a brighter future for themselves and future generations.

“We must strengthen our relationship with traditional partners, including the United States, and leverage these partnerships to drive development and growth,” President Boakai said. :Together, we can build a country with a vision that aims to create a functional and fair society for future generations.”

The conference provides a unique opportunity for Liberians in the diaspora to engage with their government and contribute to the country’s development.

As President Boakai noted, “The road ahead will not be easy, but with collective resolve, we can overcome the challenges and build a better future for all Liberians.”