PHOTO: President Boakai addressing partners at the Retreat
Press Release
April 18, 2025
Executive Mansion, Monrovia: President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., delivered a keynote address at the Government of Liberia and Development Partners’ Retreat held at the EJS Ministerial Complex in Oldest Congo Town on Thursday, April 17, 2025.
The Retreat, convened under the theme “Strengthening Partnerships for the Implementation of Liberia’s National Plan – ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID),” brought together government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, development partners, private sector representatives, civil society, and the Liberian diaspora.
In his address, President Boakai emphasized the urgent need for collective action to tackle Liberia’s complex development challenges, including youth unemployment, gender inequality, institutional capacity deficits, and global funding uncertainties.
Highlighting the ARREST Agenda’s focus on six strategic pillars—Agriculture, Roads (Infrastructure), Rule of Law and Governance, Education, Sanitation and Health, and Tourism—the President called for enhanced strategic partnerships, innovative financing solutions, and inclusive collaboration.
“Our challenges are intricate and multi-dimensional,” President Boakai noted, stressing the need for transformative change to generate economic opportunities, particularly for youth, women, and persons living with disabilities. He called on development partners to focus not only on peacebuilding interventions but also on addressing the root causes of Liberia’s development hurdles.
Acknowledging the ambitious goal of mobilizing 8.4 billion dollars over the next five years to implement the AAID, the President emphasized the importance of aligning efforts and resources, building institutional capacity, promoting innovation, and ensuring transparency and accountability to rebuild public trust.
President Boakai reaffirmed his Government’s commitment to work with all stakeholders—including the banking sector, private sector partners, civil society organizations, international development partners, and the Liberian people—to foster sustainable growth, mobilize local resources, and advance Liberia’s national development goals.
“We build a better foundation of peace when we build an economy that creates jobs, provides income, and delivers services to the people,” President Boakai said.
He concluded by thanking the United Nations and all development partners for their continued support and expressed hope that the Retreat would produce meaningful outcomes to drive Liberia’s transformation forward.