MONROVIA – In a powerful and deeply inspirational address to the entire Government of Liberia, African Development Bank (AfDB) President Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina called on Liberia to “Arise and Shine,” urging leaders at every level to embrace visionary leadership, demand results, and work collectively to rescue the country from poverty and underdevelopment.
Speaking directly to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Vice President Jeremiah Koung, Speaker Richard Koon, Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, ministers, legislators, and judiciary members at a high-profile government gathering in Monrovia, Dr. Adesina declared that Liberia, with its rich history, resilience, and abundant natural resources, has no business being poor.
“Liberia must shine,” Dr. Adesina said with passion. “It must shine for its people. It must shine for its neighbors. It must shine for Africa and for the Black race, with dignity and honor.”
Dr. Adesina recounted his long-standing connection with Liberia, reflecting on his visits during the tenures of Presidents Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, George Weah, and now Joseph Boakai. He reminded the audience of Liberia’s role in inspiring African liberation movements and its pivotal contribution to the founding of the African Development Bank, an idea born from the late Liberian economist Dr. Romeo Horton.
Highlighting the Bank’s longstanding partnership with Liberia, he revealed that since 1967, AfDB has invested over US$1.02 billion in 72 development projects across the country. He outlined key infrastructure achievements, including 177 kilometers of newly constructed roads and 2,434 kilometers of electricity transmission lines. Notably, the Bank financed the $29 million Paynesville-Roberts International Airport transmission line and supported nearly 40,000 new electricity connections under the Liberia Energy Efficiency and Access Project.
“We are not just investing,” Dr. Adesina said. “We are transforming lives.”
The AfDB President emphasized the opening of Liberia’s Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank, the first of its kind in Africa, as a milestone initiative funded by a US$16 million AfDB grant. Designed to support business ventures by young Liberians under 35, the Bank aligns directly with the government’s ARREST agenda.
Adesina described AfDB’s “High 5s” agenda as the Bank’s guiding vision. This includes Light Up and Power Africa, Feed Africa, Industrialize Africa, Integrate Africa, and Improve the Quality of Life. He said the agenda has touched the lives of 565 million Africans in the past decade. He detailed how this approach had driven transformative growth, increased the Bank’s capital from US$93 billion to US$318 billion, and earned it global acclaim, including being ranked the world’s most transparent multilateral financial institution.
As he reflected on the end of his ten-year tenure at the helm of the Bank, Dr. Adesina urged Liberian officials to adopt leadership rooted in bold vision, measurable results, inter-ministerial teamwork, and accountability. “Ministers are not small Presidents,” he cautioned. “Their job is to help the President succeed. If they fail, they should be removed.”
He proposed the adoption of a “One Government” approach to policy execution and encouraged the establishment of a Presidential Performance Awards Program to incentivize collaboration across agencies.
With clarity and candor, he called for an overhaul of Liberia’s public service and judicial sectors, aligning civil service with national goals and ensuring judicial independence to uphold the rule of law. He praised Liberia’s new Service Delivery Charter but emphasized that its success hinges on how well citizens experience improved services.
On natural resources, Dr. Adesina was unequivocal: “Liberia must stop the export of raw materials. The door to poverty is exporting raw materials. The highway to wealth is adding value to them.”
Calling for national pride and unity, Dr. Adesina rallied the audience with an affirmation of Liberia’s destiny. “Liberia is tired of being poor. Its people carry the genes of resilience, hope, and excellence,” he declared.
He concluded with a rousing benediction: “Liberia, from the words of the Prophet Isaiah, ‘Arise and shine, for thy light has come!’” The audience erupted in applause.
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