PAYNESVILLE – Liberia’s leading civil society organization, Naymote Partners for Democratic Development has releaseD its first comprehensive report on President Joseph Boakai’s “100-Day Deliverables” since assuming office. The report shows that President Boakai’s administration has completed 11 out of 107 deliverables within the specified timeframe. Despite these achievements, challenges persist, with 45 deliverables in progress and 51 remaining unrated due to a lack of available information.
By Siaway T. Miapue, contributing writer
Following his inauguration in January last year, Pres. Boakai’s and the Unity Party-led government released a document titled “100-Day Deliverables,” outlining twelve (12) key objectives aimed at achieving targeted milestones within the initial 100 days. The primary goal of the plan was to demonstrate short-term progress, laying the groundwork for a broader National Development Agenda, as articulated in the “ARREST” vision, while fostering transparency and momentum for transformative change nationwide.
“Boakai-led administration has tackled a robust plan with 107 deliverables spanning multiple sectors since taking office,” NAYMOTE Executive Director, Eddie Jarwolo says. “Of these, 11 constituting 10% are completed, 45 constituting 42% are in progress, and 51 constituting 48% remain unrated due to the lack of available information, signaling the need for proactive measures to fulfill commitments to the Liberian populace.”
In the report, actions have been observed in sectors like telecommunications, aviation, and agriculture including restructuring governance boards and devising plans for equipment mobilization, while the telecommunications sector saw the revival of the e-Liberia website for improved public service access.
Under infrastructure development and public works initiatives, progress has been made in road infrastructure projects across the country, including major corridors like Toe’s Town to Zwedru and Salayea to Voinjama. Additionally, vital drainage cleaning exercises are underway in central Monrovia and other areas, enhancing urban resilience and mitigating flood risks.
“Of the 11 interventions under the Ministry of Public Works, actions were taken on all but none were completed,” Jarwolo stated in the report.
For telecommunications advancements as contained in the 100-Day Deliverables, the report stated that the Boakia’s administration has completed 4 out of 11 initiatives committed to fulfilling within the first 100 days in Office in sector two were in progress and five were not rated. The Committee has reviewed four major contracts and partnerships including the “Space wide” – responsible for mobile networks, “K Comm” – responsible for visa and CBL -data center.
While NAYMOTE commended the Liberian leader for setting aside a date for the conduct of the national county sports meet, constituting the Board of the Higher Commission on Education, and budget, within the fiscal year 2024, for the payment of WAEC Fees for all 9th and 12th graders, it said no action has been taken to optimize the free tuition program, settle outstanding scholarships for local and international students, or complete the construction of 25 schools that are nearing completion.
However, NAYMOTE said it is worth noting that the Ministry of Gender has initiated assessments of rape cases in the southeastern counties, marking a crucial first step toward fulfilling the government’s commitment to conducting a nationwide assessment of rape cases. Overall, out of the outlined deliverables, the government has only achieved two and working toward achieving two of the cluster deliverables.
For healthcare and Public Safety, NAYMOTE reports indicates that the government is making attempts to achieve all commitments made in this deliverable cluster; the government has declared drug and substance abuse as a national public health emergency which underscores the administration’s resolve to combat substance abuse effectively, safeguarding the well-being of Liberian citizens.
Additionally, efforts to enhance access to essential medicines and medical commodities have been bolstered through partnerships with organizations like Medicine for All People (MAP) including the recent donation of medication through a partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) which also underscores the government’s commitment to improving healthcare delivery and ensuring equitable access to vital resources.
Progress has also been observed in governance reform measures within various government institutions, even though challenges remain in areas like contract awarding processes and fiscal rules introduction. The report also indicated that progress has been observed within the Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA), particularly in the establishment of a Safety and Emergency Response Mechanism, the development of a multi-year planning process, and the initiation of the reconciliation process to achieve Revenue Accountability.
More so, efforts within the National Road Fund (NRF) to develop managerial and administrative procedures have seen some advancement, but initiatives like Policy/Political enforcement for accurate accounting are yet to be rated. Similarly, the National Transit Authority (NTA) has yet to develop effective management systems and procedures. The Ministry of Transport has not undertaken any initiatives towards achieving the Assets Verification and Accounting and Assessment of Traffic and Vehicle Registration Section. Similarly, the Administrative Revision of Service Charges to be carried out by the Liberia Telecommunication Authority (LTA) remains unrated.
The Liberia Agency for Community Empowerment (LACE) is yet to initiate any of the planned governance reforms, while President Boakai has constituted the Liberia Civil Aviation Authority (LCAA) Board of Directors, but initiatives like amending the LCAA Act are yet to be rated. In other sectors, such as the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the report added.
In economic and financial governance, NAYMOTE says there have been no efforts made towards the introduction of fiscal rules, but progress has been made in conducting audits. Also, some progress has been seen in certain sectors like the Central Agriculture Research Institute (CARI), particularly with regards to the constitution of its Board, but nothing significant has been done to conduct a performance review of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Overall, out of the 33-governance reform-related deliverables, 18 remain “not rated,” indicating a need for proactive actions to be taken by the incumbent President to engender improvement in Liberia’s governance framework,” the report shows.
Even though Pres. Boakai has articulated a range of initiatives aimed at advancing agricultural development and ensuring food security including finalizing the Liberia Food Security Crisis Preparedness Plan and zero postharvest loss strategy, establishing an Agriculture and Industrial Development Bank, aligning intervention projects with national agricultural goals, and revising the Cooperative Societies Act to ease seafood exports, among others, concrete actions towards achieving these deliverables have not yet been documented.
“Overall, among the 12 key deliverables, three are marked as “completed,” one as “in progress,” while the remaining eight are designated as “not rated.” This indicates a mixed status of achievement and underscores the need for sustained efforts to realize the outlined goals.”
