MONROVIA – Amin Modad’s “Liberia First” message lands at a moment when economic nationalism is gaining currency across the political spectrum. The former Commerce Minister and former Unity Party Chairman is not merely offering slogans; he is contesting how national wealth gets negotiated. His central claim carries an implicit indictment: Liberia’s poverty reflects choices, not endowments. That framing shifts responsibility from geography to governance, and from foreign actors to domestic leadership. His warning against “exporting opportunity” through unfavorable agreements challenges the architecture of concession-driven growth itself. Coming from a former insider of the ruling establishment, the critique carries particular political weight, as THE ANALYST reports.
Former Minister of Commerce and Industry and former Chairman of the ruling Unity Party (UP), Amin Modad, has called for a renewed national commitment to placing Liberia and its citizens at the center of every government policy, investment decision, and international engagement. His appeal was contained in a public message outlining his vision for the country’s future.
Choices Over Endowments
Presenting what he describes as a “Liberia First” vision, Modad said the country possesses all the ingredients necessary to become prosperous, stressing that Liberia’s greatest challenge has never been a lack of natural resources or human potential but rather the decisions made over the years regarding governance and national development. According to him, Liberia is richly endowed with abundant resources and enormous opportunities capable of transforming the lives of its citizens.
However, he maintained that meaningful progress will only come through deliberate choices that prioritize national development and the welfare of the Liberian people.
“Liberia has everything it needs to succeed,” Modad declared, adding that many countries with fewer natural resources have achieved remarkable economic growth and improved living standards because they made strategic and visionary choices.
He argued that Liberia’s future depends not merely on what the country possesses but on how effectively its leaders manage those resources and opportunities.
Pillars of Resilient Growth
Modad emphasized that building a resilient economy requires more than attracting investment. He said sustainable growth must rest on the foundations of honest and decisive leadership, strong public institutions, quality education, an efficient healthcare delivery system, equal opportunities for citizens, and a vibrant private sector capable of creating jobs and generating wealth.
He noted that these pillars are indispensable if Liberia is to compete effectively in the global economy and deliver lasting improvements in the lives of its people.
Ending ‘Exported Opportunity’
The former Commerce Minister also urged policymakers to rethink the country’s approach to economic negotiations and investment, cautioning against agreements that fail to produce tangible benefits for ordinary Liberians.
According to him, Liberia must end the practice of “exporting opportunity” through unfavorable arrangements and instead focus on investing in Liberians, empowering local entrepreneurs, strengthening domestic businesses, and creating opportunities that enable citizens to participate meaningfully in the nation’s economic growth.
He stressed that economic policies should be designed to build local capacity, increase employment, and ensure that the country’s natural wealth translates into improved living standards for its people. Such an approach, he suggested, would mark a decisive break from arrangements that have historically favored external interests.
Diplomacy for Prosperity
On foreign relations, Modad maintained that Liberia’s diplomacy and development strategy should be guided by one overriding objective: creating prosperity for Liberians. He asserted that every bilateral partnership, international agreement, development program, and investment initiative should be evaluated based on its capacity to advance the country’s national interest and improve the quality of life of its citizens.
Patriotism as Policy
Summing up his vision, Modad called for a shift in national thinking, insisting that patriotism must be reflected not only in words but in public policy and governance. “Every policy. Every negotiation. Every investment. Every decision,” he emphasized, “must be guided by one principle: Liberia First. Always.”
His message underscores a growing conversation around economic nationalism, institutional reform, and citizen-centered development. These themes continue to feature prominently in Liberia’s ongoing efforts to strengthen governance, stimulate economic growth, and deliver inclusive prosperity for all Liberians.