MONROVIA — If racking up air miles is the measure of a successful presidency, President Joseph Boakai would stand out significantly among African presidents, given his notable frequency of international journeys since the commencement of his tenure in January 2024.
By Selma Lomax [email protected]
President Boakai had been the subject of unflattering descriptions – as the costs associated with his alleged penchant for air travel often contrasted with tough economic conditions in Liberia.
In his first nine months in office, Boakai has visited several western and Asian countries, but his recent recent trip to Indonesia is generating an uproar following his large entourage and the dividends other countries benefited from the gathering in Indonesia.
The Indonesia News Agency, Antara News, has reported that Indonesia has signed $94.1 million health sector deals with Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Tanzania, South Africa, and Namibia.
The Liberian government, through the Executive Mansion, the official page of the Liberian presidency, would later post on its Facebook handle, reporting from the same trip about Liberia that President Boakai only unveiled areas of investment and cooperation, and invited Indonesia and companies therefrom to invest in Liberia.
“President Boakai’s presence at the forum underscores Liberia’s commitment to fostering global partnerships that can drive the country’s development agenda. The President is expected to advocate strongly for support in several key sectors crucial to Liberia’s growth and prosperity. These sectors include Agriculture, Energy and Petroleum, Education, Technology, Business Investments, and Youth Capacity Development.
“President Boakai’s agenda is centered on seeking strategic partnerships that can help Liberia address pressing challenges and capitalize on opportunities for sustainable development. Agriculture, a vital sector for Liberia, is expected to be a major focus as the President aims to secure investments and technological advancements that can boost productivity and ensure food security,” the Executive Mansion wrote.
History of Boakai’s foreign “wasteful” trips
This is not the first time the Liberian leader has left a foreign trip without any tangibles to show. In June, President Boakai led a high-powered delegation to participate in the inaugural Korea-Africa Summit in Seoul, which focused on trade and investment.
Following the conclusion of the Summit, FrontPageAfrica learned that several African countries, including Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Kenya, and Ethiopia, signed 50 preliminary agreements and Memorandum of Understanding to promote cooperation in fields such as trade, energy, minerals, and various other industrial and economic sectors.
At the summit’s conclusion, the Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy announced that 12 memorandums of understanding had been signed between South Korea and 11 African countries. Additionally, South Korea and Tanzania have announced the start of negotiations for an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) to deepen trade exchanges. Seoul has reached a similar understanding with Morocco to strengthen relations on supply chains, the digital industry, and broader trade issues.
The South Korean government also signed a Trade and Investment Promotion Framework with eight African countries, including Ghana, Malawi, and Zimbabwe, to facilitate trade and investment. Agreements on critical minerals were signed with Tanzania and Madagascar.
Agreements with Other Countries
Kenya secured a $485 million (Sh63 billion) concessional development loan from South Korea. According to local media, President William Ruto stated that the facility includes $238 million (Sh30.9 billion) for the Konza Digital Media City Project, which will bolster Kenya’s digital ecosystem and expand opportunities for youth in the creative economy.
Ethiopia, a fast-growing economy with 126 million people, signed a $1 billion financing deal over four years for infrastructure, science and technology, health, and urban development, according to Reuters.
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan is seeking cooperation in sectors including the sustainable use of ocean resources, the development of natural gas deposits, creative industries, and labor supply to South Korea, according to reports.
Uganda and Ghana also signed bilateral agreements with the Asian country.
