By Festus Poquie
Liberia’s President Joseph Boakai and his cabinet appear to downplay the implementation of the administration’s flagship development agenda – ARREST, which stands for Agriculture, Road Rule of Law, Education, and Sanitation & Tourism.
It is a comprehensive plan focused on addressing key areas of development in Liberia. But the President have agreed to allocate less funding to various programs and projects compared to predecessor George Weah.
For instance tourism, which has the potential to generate millions of dollars in foreign exchange earnings has zero plan, zero funding. The government agency that supervises the sector has a mere $2.8 million allocation for employees’ compensation only.
In his last year in office, Weah spent $358.5 million on what Boakai and the Unity Party called ARREST, according to the Oracle News Daily review and analysis of the 2024 Appropriation Bill, or the draft national budget.
The administration plans to spend $323.6 million on its development agenda. This represent $34.9 million or 9.7% drop in sector spending in relation to previous year allocation.
- Agriculture: The ARREST Agenda aims to promote agricultural development and food security in the country. It includes initiatives to enhance farming techniques, improve access to agricultural resources, and support farmers’ welfare.
- Road Infrastructure: The agenda seeks to improve the road network across Liberia to enhance connectivity and transportation efficiency. The development and maintenance of roads are crucial for economic growth and regional integration.
Under infrastructure and basic services, Boakai and team plan to spend $44.6 million less on this sector when compared to the $55.7 million Weah administration allocated in 2023.
- Rule of Law: President Boakai’s ARREST Agenda emphasizes the importance of strengthening the rule of law in Liberia. It aims to promote a just and fair legal system, enhance access to justice, and ensure the protection of human rights. The government will be spending $96.1 million to achieve targeted goals under this program. The Weah administration in its last fiscal year appropriated $127.5 million to implement activities in this sector.
- 4. Education: This pillar prioritizes investment in education to improve the quality and accessibility of education in Liberia. It focuses on improving school infrastructure, training teachers, and expanding access to education for all Liberian children.
In its first 12 months administration has planned to spend $105.9 million on this sector compared to the $98.1 million appropriated in the 2023 budget period.
- 5. Sanitation: The ARREST Agenda recognizes the need for proper sanitation and waste management systems in Liberia. It aims to improve the country’s sanitation infrastructure, promote hygiene practices, and create a clean and healthy living environment.
The national budget, sanitation is captured under the Energy and Environment Sector, which has an appropriation of $18.2 million. This amount is less when compared to the 28.4 million spent on the sector in the last year of the Weah administration.
- Tourism: The agenda places importance on harnessing Liberia’s potential as a tourist destination. It seeks to develop tourism infrastructure, preserve cultural heritage sites, and promote tourism as a driver of economic growth and job creation.
According to Hesta Baker, a Marketing and Branding Consultant, tourism has the potential to generate an estimated $200 million United States dollars in revenue in a four-year period. The Boakai administration has planned to spend nothing on this sector for three end 2026.
