It is an excellent move for President Boakai to convene a cabinet meeting at this time to discuss the key problems affecting our country. But, will this cabinet meeting bring back hope to the people? It is possible ONLY when decisive actions are taken.
Let me clarify that the cabinet meeting is laudible! It shows a direct commitment to collective governance and a strategic approach to addressing the chronic problems affecting our country.
With this in mind, I would honestly love for the President to include and discuss the five (5) chronically disturbing problems in his cabinet meeting now and find solutions. It must be followed by key strategies to tackle the specific challenges mentioned above.
- ​Economic Stabilization and Diversification:
The cabinet must drastically confront the root causes of the economic hardships, including high inflation, a volatile exchange rate, and over-reliance on a few primary commodities.
Prices of commodities are very high nowadays, and with a high cost of living and low salaries, the people will catch hard times.
The discussion must focus on creating a more stable macroeconomic environment. This involves exploring policies to attract investment in non-extractive sectors like agriculture and manufacturing, which can provide more sustainable jobs and income.
Assemble the best economic team of experts to diagnose the problems, and proffer the best solutions. No one has monopoly over knowledge. Tap on the experience of others!
- ​Public Financial Management & Accountability:
JNB has started to fight corruption. Fine. But, building on the initial steps against corruption, the cabinet will need to develop a comprehensive plan for public financial management.
For example, creating a transparent and efficient system for budget allocation, procurement, and expenditure tracking will minimize corruption The goal is to ensure that public funds are used for their intended purpose and to reduce waste and leakages that lead money going into the pockets of others.
- ​Human Capacity Development:
It should be at the back of the President’s cabinet that Liberia’s high unemployment rate, especially among the youth, requires a focused discussion on education and vocational training. No joke about this. The cabinet should URGENTLY outline a plan to reform the education system to better ALIGN with the needs of the job market.
The President’s cabinet must immediately put in more money to invest in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) to equip young people with practical skills. Why should students take 12 or 14 subjects when those subjects will have no impact on their Lifetime careers.
Investment in technology is another significant issue the cabinet should discuss. In the next 10 years, technology will dominate all sectors of our society and if you can’t boot a computer, you will struggle to survive in the technical age that will surpass everything very soon.
- ​National Security and Public Safety:
The growing issue of drug abuse in the country is a potential threat to our survival, national security and public safety concerns.
The President’s cabinet must discuss and coordinate a multi-agency response. This should involve everyone: law enforcement, the health sector, CSOs, religious community, and community leaders. Strategic plan that is combined with a decisive drug interdiction efforts with public health interventions like rehabilitation and awareness campaigns, must be robustly carried out. The fight against drug is the President’s signature project, and if he fails on this one, the future democratic consequences will be too severe to bear.
- ​Food Security and Agricultural Transformation:
As a nation, our dependence on imported food makes Liberia completely vulnerable to global price shocks. The President’s cabinet should focus on revitalizing the agricultural sector. For example, the cabinet could develop strategies to increase local food production, support smallholder farmers with resources and technology, and improve market access for their products. How?
Sectoral development method of targeting certain production in large quantities annually for like 3 years in roll, could get the country off the hook of specific food importation to managing its own food production agenda as it used to be.
#Regroup CEO
