MONROVIA, LIBERIA: In a powerful address that echoed across Liberia’s political landscape, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), issued a clear and urgent call to action: hold leaders accountable-or replace them.
At a high-level cabinet event hosted by President Joseph N. Boakai at the E.J.S. Complex, Dr. Adesina laid out a bold roadmap for Liberia’s future under the government’s ARREST agenda. His message was simple but transformative: ambition without execution is wasted potential.
“If your target is too realistic, you’re too comfortable. Scaling over a stool is not an achievement,” he said, urging Liberian ministers to set higher goals, take calculated risks, and stop operating in silos.
Raising the Bar on Leadership
Dr. Adesina recalled his own time as Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture, where he dared to aim for 20 million additional tons of food in four years; a target that was exceeded. It wasn’t just about numbers, he explained, but about leading with vision, drive, and discipline.
“Liberia’s challenges are like Baobab trees,” he added. “They require many hands and united minds to overcome.”
He proposed a “One Government” model, inspired by the AfDB’s own “One Bank” framework, encouraging ministries to collaborate; not compete. Inter-agency turf wars, he warned, are luxuries that Liberia can no longer afford.
Reward Results. Remove Excuses.
Perhaps his most pointed message was directed at President Boakai himself.
“Don’t just blow the whistle; use your yellow card, or even the red card. Reward the performers. Dispense with the non-performers,” he said, to resounding applause.
Dr. Adesina called for routine performance reviews, enforceable standards, and a no-nonsense culture in public service. Without this, he argued, Liberia’s ambitious goals will remain stuck in speeches and slogans.
Reforming the Engine of Government
A major highlight of Dr. Adesina’s speech was his critique of the civil service. He described it as too bureaucratic, often misaligned with government direction, and lacking a results-based culture. For real progress, he stressed the need to:
- Reengineer the civil service to restore integrity and professionalism
- Establish a culture of merit and delivery in all ministries
- Uphold judicial independence to ensure the rule of law and investor confidence
“Civil service is the engine of government,” he warned. “But if it malfunctions, nothing moves.”
Liberia’s Riches, Liberia’s Responsibility
Dr. Adesina also zeroed in on the nation’s natural wealth; calling it both a blessing and a responsibility.
“With its vast natural resources, Liberia has no business being poor. Development will depend on how the country manages what it has,” he said.
He urged the government to maximize returns from its natural assets through transparency, environmental protection, and smart policy.
President Boakai Responds: A Pledge for Reform
In response, President Boakai thanked Dr. Adesina for his visionary leadership and reaffirmed his commitment to meaningful reform. He hailed the Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank (YEIB), recently launched by AfDB, as a “lifeline for the country’s future.”
He also called attention to the Liberty Corridor Project, a regional integration initiative aimed at unlocking economic opportunities and trade across West Africa.
“The presence of all three branches of government today reflects the respect we have for your work,” President Boakai told Dr. Adesina. “You are a partner in our national rebirth.”
A Legacy that Will Outlive a Tenure
As Dr. Adesina prepares to conclude his tenure as AfDB President, his legacy in Liberia is already visible. Under his leadership, the Bank’s portfolio in Liberia has grown to $408 million across 18 critical projects—from infrastructure and energy to education and agriculture.
The day’s event concluded with the dedication of a model school, envisioned as a benchmark for future educational facilities. Ministers, lawmakers, and civil society leaders engaged in a vibrant Q&A session, reaffirming their collective commitment to the ARREST agenda—and to a Liberia where leadership delivers, or steps aside.
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