Monrovia – The Boakai-Koung administration, which came to power under the popular “Rescue Mission” mantra, aimed to rescue Liberia from years of stagnation, failed policies, and poor governance.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh [email protected]
On the campaign trail, veteran politician Amb. Joseph Nyuma Boakai, alongside his youthful running mate, then-Senator Jeremiah Koung, and other members of the Unity Party Alliance, promised to liberate Liberia through their ARREST agenda—an acronym for Agriculture, Road, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation, and Tourism. Their message resonated strongly with voters, drawing large crowds.
However, as the public eagerly anticipates the administration’s development plan, many expected the government to build on landmark programs critical to its success. Instead, the government, through the Ministry of Finance, is proposing significant budget cuts to major programs that are key components of the ARREST initiative—such as agriculture, road development, and the fight against Kush, a deadly drug that has ravaged the lives of many young people.
Rolling Back on the Kush Pledge?
During the 2023 campaign, Boakai and the Unity Party Alliance made the fight against drug abuse, particularly Kush, one of their primary promises. Billboards carrying anti-drug messages were placed across the country, with the party criticizing the George Weah administration for not doing enough to combat the issue.
In his first State of the Nation address in January, President Boakai declared drug abuse a “public health emergency” and announced the formation of a steering committee to address the crisis, particularly the spread of Kush—a synthetic drug mimicking cannabis that has devastated youth in Liberia and neighboring Sierra Leone. While reliable data is lacking, projections suggest that around 20% of Liberian youth are affected by drug abuse.
Boakai demonstrated his seriousness by undergoing a drug test alongside Vice President Koung, which drew applause from lawmakers. He called Kush an “existential threat eating away at the future of our children and the country” and stressed the need for collective action to address the national security risk. “I am hereby declaring drugs and substance abuse a public health emergency,” Boakai said, pledging immediate action.
The government initially appropriated US$1.93 million for the “Kush Must Go” project, but in the draft recast budget submitted to the Legislature, that amount has been slashed to just US$425,787—a cut of US$1.5 million. This drastic reduction has drawn widespread criticism. In the House of Representatives, Rep. Thomas Goshua (District #5, Grand Bassa County) has written to the plenary urging them not to reduce the budget.
As the public eagerly awaits the Boakai-Koung administration’s development plan, many expected it to build on landmark programs whose successful implementation would be pivotal to the administration’s overall success. However, the government, through the Ministry of Finance, has made drastic cuts to major programs that form key components of the ARREST initiative—among them, agriculture, road development, and the fight against Kush, the deadly drug that continues to devastate the lives of thousands of young people.
“The request to cut the drug budget signals our unreadiness to fight drugs in Liberia,” Rep. Goshua said. “During President Boakai’s first State of the Nation address, he described drugs as a ‘Public Health Emergency.’ If the president’s statement is to be taken seriously, we as legislators should see reason to increase the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency’s budget, not reduce it.”
Cuts to Key ARREST Agenda Programs
In addition to the cut to the anti-drug initiative, other components of the ARREST agenda are also facing reductions. President Boakai emphasized his administration’s commitment to fixing Liberia’s crumbling road network. Despite progress in addressing road issues, the government has come under fire for reducing the “Gov’t No Car Stuck in the Mud” initiative by US$300,000.
The agriculture sector, another key pillar of the ARREST agenda, has seen a budget cut of US$2.1 million, reducing its allocation from US$8.82 million to US$6.71 million. The Ministry of Agriculture itself faces a reduction from US$5.72 million to US$3.70 million.
Education, a critical component of the administration’s rescue mission, has also been affected, with its budget reduced by US$2.84 million—from US$111.33 million to US$108.44 million. Municipal government funding has been cut from US$35.80 million to US$32.26 million, while Social Development Services has seen its budget reduced from US$26.34 million to US$18.92 million.
Even the Ministry of Justice, tasked with upholding the rule of law, has not been spared. Its budget has been cut from US$44.40 million to US$40.73 million.
Public Backlash and Concerns
As the Boakai-Koung administration’s recast budget faces scrutiny in the Legislature, there is growing public concern over the government’s commitment to fulfilling its campaign promises. Many Liberians who voted for the “Rescue Mission” now question whether the drastic cuts to critical programs will undermine the administration’s ability to achieve its goals.
