Gov’t Clarifies Misconceptions’ -Says President Joseph N. Boakai in Japan for TICAD

By: George C. Flomo

MONROVIA – Deputy Minister of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT), Daniel O. Sando, has clarified widespread misconceptions surrounding President Joseph N. Boakai’s current visit to Japan, stressing that the President is attending the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) and not the Osaka Expo 2025, as suggested by critics.

Speaking Tuesday at the MICAT regular press briefing, Minister Sando explained that Liberia’s participation in TICAD 9 is a major diplomatic and development opportunity, jointly organized by the Government of Japan, the United Nations, and the African Development Commission.

“The sole reason why President Boakai is in Japan is to attend TICAD,” Sando emphasized. “Suggestions that he traveled for the Osaka Expo 2025 are untrue. However, following the TICAD conference, line ministries and agencies, including MICAT, will represent Liberia at the Expo to showcase the nation’s arts, culture, and tourism.”

According to Sando, Liberia’s delegation to Japan was deliberately set up to align ministries with sectoral opportunities for investment and representation.

He noted that while President Boakai leads overall representation, “able lieutenants” are tasked with advancing opportunities in key sectors such as mining, agriculture, and education.

The Deputy Minister also disclosed that on Wednesday, August 20, President Boakai will hold a high-level bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the Intercontinental Yokohama Grand. Attending the meeting will be ministers of Foreign Affairs, Finance, Commerce, Agriculture, Education, Gender, Information, along with Liberia’s Ambassador to Japan and other senior officials.

Sando said discussions will focus on trade, investment, agriculture, education, and bilateral cooperation, marking a significant step forward in strengthening Liberia–Japan relations.

Drug Fight Intensifies

Meanwhile, Minister Sando reported that the Government of Liberia has intensified its fight against drug abuse and trafficking, with a two-day technical working session on drug and substance abuse opening Monday, August 18, at the Ministerial Complex in Monrovia.

The session brings together representatives from government ministries, civil society organizations, and development partners to develop strategies for implementing President Boakai’s January 29, 2024, declaration of drugs as a national health emergency.

The steering committee, chaired by the Minister of Health and co-chaired by the Ministry of Justice, is mandated to design and implement a holistic national response, including rehabilitation, prevention, and enforcement.

Sando reminded Liberians of the government’s uncompromising stance: “In Liberia, drug trafficking is an unbailable offense,” he stressed. “No status, no uniform, and no amount of money can save you from prosecution.”

He praised communities for their recent involvement in combating drugs in non-violent ways, noting that citizen-led initiatives show that “the country has rallied around a common cause.”

However, he urged communities to always coordinate with joint security forces to ensure safety and legality during crackdowns.

Liberia Launches First-Ever Digital Village

In a related development, Sando highlighted progress in the telecommunications sector, announcing the completion of Liberia’s first-ever Digital Village in Foya District, Lofa County, under the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications led by Minister Sekou Kromah.

The facility, sponsored by Chinese tech giant Huawei, provides green energy internet connectivity to over 50 facilities, including schools, hospitals, churches, and homes, within a 2.5-kilometer radius. It also supplies free solar electricity to more than 100 households and offers smart classroom education to enhance students’ digital learning.

Sando described the Digital Village as a “milestone achievement” in Liberia’s journey toward digital transformation.

“This project demonstrates government’s commitment to modernizing the telecommunications sector while ensuring communities benefit from sustainable energy and digital education,” he said.

The official launch of the Digital Village is expected soon, marking what authorities say is a new era of connectivity and innovation in Liberia.