By: Sylvester Choloplay
Monrovia, Liberia – December 3, 2024:
Liberian 25th President, H.E. Joseph Nyuma Boakai, has endorsed the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID), a five-year $8.4 billion United States Dollars development blueprint aimed at addressing Liberia’s most critical challenges and advancing equitable progress.
The project is for the period of 2025-2029.
This pronouncement was made by Liberia’s Finance and Development Planning Minister, Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, during the presentation of the ARREST Agenda on Tuesday, December 3, 2024 in Oldest Congo Town, Monrovia.
The endorsement came during the National Steering Committee meeting held on December 3, 2024, at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Monrovia.
The ARREST Agenda, which stands for Agribusiness, Roads, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation, and Tourism, is designed to tackle multidimensional poverty while fostering sustainable growth.
The plan, developed with input from government agencies, development partners, the private sector, and civil society, also incorporates County Development Agendas (CDAs) to address local priorities.
“This is a pivotal moment for Liberia as we endorse the ARREST Agenda. This six-year plan is a call to action for all Liberians and our partners to unite in transforming our nation”, President Boakai declared.
The President emphasized the plan’s focus on improving food security, healthcare, education, infrastructure, and governance while addressing environmental sustainability and private sector growth.
He called for mutual accountability in resource management to ensure the effective execution of projects.
The Liberian Chief Executive highlighted plans, including flagship projects in agribusiness, tourism, and infrastructure, with strong emphasis on empowering young people as drivers of innovation and community development.
Minister of Finance and Development Planning, who led the formulation of the plan, outlined the ARREST Agenda as a strategic framework to align with Vision 2030, Liberia’s long-term development goal.
“This agenda is not just about plans on paper. It represents a commitment to deliver tangible improvements in the lives of every Liberian,” President Boakai said, urging full engagement from all stakeholders.
Meanwhile, Minister Ngafuan presented a preliminary breakdown of the plan’s funding; he said 30% will come from government resources, while 70% is expected from private sector investments, development partners, and diaspora contributions.
Minister Ngafuan stressed the government’s commitment to fiscal sustainability, including tax reforms, efficient public spending, and adherence to ECOWAS’ debt-to-GDP ratio of less than 70%. Additionally, inflation will be maintained below 10% over the five-year period.
The AAID, endorsed as a collaborative framework for the government, private sector, and civil society, is set to reshape Liberia’s development trajectory over the next five years, laying the foundation for a prosperous and inclusive future
