Liberia has entered a new era of governance reform with the signing of Executive Order No. 163 by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., establishing the National Digitalization and Modernization Initiative (NDMI) and the Office of Technology, Digitalization and Innovation (OTDI). At the center of this sweeping transformation is Mr. Sheikh Sheriff, who now assumes direct oversight of government-wide digital systems, reporting straight to the Office of the President.
Sheriff, previously serving as Chief Information Officer at the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, has been entrusted with unprecedented responsibilities: assigning IT specialists across ministries, coordinating digital activities, and ensuring that technology services are seamlessly integrated into every government function. His office will act as the nerve center of Liberia’s digital governance, tasked with building a modern, secure, and interoperable system that eliminates inefficiency and restores public trust.
“This is a decisive step toward eliminating fragmented systems and building an interoperable government architecture—where services are connected, data flows securely across institutions, and citizens access government through one unified platform,” Sheriff declared during a recent high-level consultation.
Signed on April 22, 2026, the Executive Order mandates a Whole-of-Government modernization drive. Ministries, agencies, and commissions must adopt secure, standards-based digital systems under OTDI’s supervision. The initiative is designed to reduce waste, improve efficiency, and deliver faster, more transparent services to citizens.
Sheriff’s mandate includes: Developing national digital policies and programs to accelerate modernization, coordinating cybersecurity protections across all government systems, in partnership with the Ministries of Posts and Telecommunications and Justice, and oversight will be provided by a Digital Government Steering Committee, chaired by the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, ensuring accountability and high-level monitoring of reforms.
The Executive Order makes clear that these reforms respect existing legislation and institutional independence. The Central Bank of Liberia and the Liberia Revenue Authority retain their statutory autonomy, while ICT procurement remains subject to the Public Procurement and Concessions Act.
Executive Order No. 163 takes immediate effect and will remain in force for one year. Within 180 days, OTDI must deliver a prioritized implementation roadmap, including the first releases of the Government Enterprise Architecture Framework and the Government Interoperability Framework.
To accelerate implementation, Sheriff recently convened a high-level technical consultation aimed at onboarding priority public services onto the national e-Liberia Platform. The consultation established coordination mechanisms, including the formation of dedicated technical service teams within each institution, and outlined the roadmap for developing a comprehensive Digitalization Package.
This package will integrate services through the Government Service Bus (GSB), a unified platform designed to connect institutions, enable secure data exchange, and provide citizens with streamlined access to government services.
Sheriff emphasized that the reforms are not just about technology but about governance itself: “Modern digital systems are vital for prudent resource management and for rebuilding public trust in government institutions. This initiative ensures that Liberia is not left behind as the world moves speedily into the digital age.”
The establishment of OTDI and the appointment of Sheriff mark a historic turning point in Liberia’s governance framework. For the first time, digitalization is being treated as a matter of national priority, anchored directly in the presidency.
By consolidating fragmented systems, enforcing cybersecurity, and prioritizing transparency, the Boakai administration is laying the foundation for a 21st-century digital state. Sheriff’s leadership will determine how effectively Liberia can leap into this future—one where citizens interact with government through a single, secure, and efficient digital gateway.
