Published: November 6, 2024
Monrovia – Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan emphasized the need for citizens and the national government to leverage resources for national development as Liberia works towards “Leaving No One Behind.”
In his opening remarks at the two-day National Sectoral Validation of the National Development Plan, known as the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID), held in Monrovia on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, Minister Ngafuan highlighted the collective role required from all citizens to achieve national development goals.
“The private sector, development partners, Liberians at home and abroad, civil society, and the youth, among others, have a part to play in achieving this quest,” he said.
Ngafuan outlined that the proposed cost of the Plan is US$7.6 billion, with US$2.28 billion (30%) expected from the government. Contributions are also expected from the private sector (US$2.66 billion, or 35%), Official Development Assistance (ODA) (US$1.9 billion, or 25%), and remittances from the diaspora (US$761 million, or 10%).
He emphasized that the AAID aims to improve economic and human development, noting that the validation meeting is one of the final steps in the government’s path to launching and implementing the new National Development Plan (NDP).
Ngafuan stressed that the formulation of the draft Plan has been highly consultative and inclusive from the beginning. “As you may recall, the president launched the national and sub-national consultative process on July 18, 2024, with an emphasis on the bottom-up approach,” he said.
According to Ngafuan, the draft AAID now being validated is the result of extensive consultations across the country. He expressed gratitude on behalf of the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning for the support and goodwill received throughout the process.
“Our medium-term development agenda is largely driven by ‘ARREST’—Agriculture, with a focus on agribusiness value chains,” Ngafuan stated, explaining that the agenda emphasizes infrastructure development, including roads, ICT, energy, seaports, and air transport.
He added that the agenda also prioritizes good governance, including upholding the rule of law and strengthening the fight against corruption.
“In addition, it tackles the education value chain from early childhood education through basic, secondary, higher learning, and TVET, while targeting improved health outcomes through WASH,” he noted.
Ngafuan also mentioned the diversification of Liberia’s economy, particularly in tourism, which he described as a sector with great potential for attracting private investment. “The tourism and agriculture sectors are highly private-sector driven, and we expect the private sector to seize this opportunity,” he indicated.
The Finance Minister thanked development partners, all Liberians, and various groups across the country for their support and urged them to continue backing the initiative for the country’s benefit.
In a brief statement, World Health Organization (WHO) Liberia Country Representative Dr. Clement Lugala Peter pledged WHO’s continued support for the Liberian government’s development plan.
The event gathered representatives from ministries, agencies, commissions, development partners, academia, civil society organizations, youth groups, and the business community.
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