Boakai Returns from Tokyo -Highlights Trip’s Gains, Comments on CDC Eviction

MONROVIA – The departure from the country last week by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai sparked quite an hilarious disquiet not merely because of the size of delegation, some said they were 40 persons—something critics thought he had vehemently criticized his predecessor for—but also because there were those who thought bulk of his previous trips abroad were without substantial benefits. Last weekend, he returned home, some said he boycotted the TICAD 9 after realizing he was overwhelmed the by embarrassment of his own delegation. Whatever the case, upon arrival, the local media swarmed him to acquire from him about a litany of national issues, including gains made in Japan, and the demolition of CDC headquarters. THE ANALYST’s George C. Flomo reports.  

The Roberts International Airport came alive on Saturday August 23 as President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. returned home from a high-level visit to Japan, where he attended the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9).

The atmosphere of his arrival was marked by jubilant scenes of top government officials, cabinet ministers, partisans, and ordinary citizens thronged the airport tarmac to welcome their leader—a display of solidarity and support apparently to sway and shock-absorb critics’ denunciation of the trip for to its over-bloated entourage believed to have impacted the already drained coffers of government.

Cheers, waving flags, and warm embraces defined the mood as Liberians, under intermittent rainfall.

Following the traditional arrival briefing with the media, President Boakai outlined the essence of his visit, emphasizing partnerships for Africa’s self-reliance.

“The first thing is about national partnership, which is to help African countries become self-reliant in terms of investment, food production, and building responsible communities,” he said in his briefing with the media. “And we are committed to this.”

On the question of how Liberia intends to benefit from Japan’s pledged $5.5 billion support to African nations, President Boakai stressed that agriculture remains his government’s foremost priority.

He told the press: “My first agenda is agriculture — endeavoring for the country to feed itself. We have the potential, we are capable. We have the land and the resources. The partnerships that will help us do that are very important. That’s why we must work with strategic partners to produce. But we cannot succeed without roads — without roads, we cannot access farming communities. We are on course with that.”

He further disclosed that his discussions with Japanese authorities, including the Japanese president and implementing partners, focused on food production, infrastructure, and medical support, pointing specifically to prospects of connecting the Gabriel Tucker Bridge and securing advanced dialysis machines to improve health services.

Though he could not say what Liberia’s share of Japan’s $5.5 billion pledge to Africa would be, the President said Liberia would benefit in concrete ways, adding that effective resource management and peace-building would serve as a foundation for deeper partnerships.

“The Japanese have committed to help us. What matters is how we manage our own resources and care for our people,” he said. “That’s why I emphasized peace, working with women, youths, and communities. Through that, the partnership will see that we are serious.”

As President Boakai returned from Japan, his message is clear: Liberia’s development agenda will hinge on agriculture, infrastructure, health, and peace-building, supported by global partnerships but driven by local responsibility.

For citizens who lined up under the rain at Roberts International Airport, the President’s words resonated with hope that his administration’s foreign engagements will translate into tangible improvements in their daily lives.

Responding to CDC Headquarters Demolition

Meanwhile, President Boakai also addressed questions surrounding the recent demolition of headquarters of the former ruling Congress for Democratic Change (CDC). The incident sparked mixed reactions, with critics labeling it a political witch-hunt, while others defended it as a matter of law enforcement.

The President was unequivocal in his response: “The law is the law. It’s not the government; it’s the implementation of the law. The police were ordered to do it, and they did. That is not a demolition — it is the removal of people from premises that do not belong to them, according to the law.”