Liberian President Joseph Tuesday discouraged migration to the United States and other developed countries citing hardships migrants endure to earn income and support families at home.
Speaking in Monrovia after spending nearly a month in the United States, he urged citizens to remain in Liberia and help build a prosperous economy rather than seeking opportunity primarily through emigration.
“A lot of you here are depending on small, small money that people send. Sometimes when they send you US$50, that person does not have money, but you can say, ‘that’s only US$50 you sent me,” he said.
“I wish you would go there and see the condition in which that person earned the US$50. You have not gone there to see it. That is why it’s good to build your country. Liberia is a beautiful country where you have everything. The only thing is to manage it.’
The appeal comes amid widespread interest in emigration: surveys indicate roughly 75% of Liberians have considered leaving the country. Analysts attribute the trend to high unemployment, delayed salary payments and low wages for professionals — factors that have contributed to a growing brain drain of skilled workers.
Major destinations for Liberian emigrants include the United States, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.
Remittance inflows have become a critical pillar of Liberia’s economy. Annual diaspora remittances have been estimated at about $800 million, representing roughly 18–20% of GDP in recent years. Those funds are vital for household consumption but are frequently not channeled into investment.
