– Swedish Ambassador says
By: Leila Baryonnoh Gbati
Swedish Ambassador to Liberia Urban Sjostrom has said that President Joseph Nyumah Boakai’s message on combating corruption is what they want to hear.
Ambassador Sjostrom disclosed this on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, when he appeared on the Super Morning Show on ELBC Radio in Paynesville.
Speaking on Sweden’s relationship with Liberia and development portfolio, Ambassador Sjostrom highlighted that the platform President Boakai is presenting that has to do with investing in Liberia which is a rich country is the right thing from his perspective.
According to him, Liberia has so much to benefit from when it comes to governance, institutions, and structures but the implementation of these policies is the issue so, when President Boakai says he wants to combat corruption they believe it is also the message they want to hear.
The Swedish Ambassador said part of President Boakai’s agenda to invest in agriculture is key but also to invest in social areas such as health and education is paramount.
“We know that for Liberia to be prosperous children both, girls and boys need to be educated because that is the foundation”, he added.
Ambassador Sjostrom also stated that improving investment in the climate of Liberia is key because Liberia deserves and needs investment to prosperous and he believes that it has to do with governance looking at the rule of law and democratic governance.
He mentioned that as a guest in Liberia, he was amazed by the election process last year.
He indicated that the European Union Observation Mission wrote a critical report on the election and they told him that their observation in Liberia is the best and critical report.
“So, Liberia did very well conducting a peaceful election and most especially a peaceful transfer of power,” Ambassador Sjostrom said.
Speaking further, the Swedish Ambassador said he is excited to go into an in-depth discussion with the ministers to know how President Boakai intends to fight corruption.
He vowed to work with other development partners to support Liberia in the fight against corruption.
Meanwhile, speaking on Sweden’s support to Liberia, Ambassador Sjostrom said they have a broad development portfolio ranging from human rights to road and agriculture.
“When it comes to agriculture we are eager to see new ways or more efficient ways of agriculture methods and business as well as environmentally friendly looking at the slash and burn method that is used in some areas which are very damaging to the forest and biodiversity. This is where we are investing in finding more effective ways in agriculture and environmentally friendly”.
Ambassador Sjostrom continued: “When it comes to inclusive economy for example we want the vocational training school in Voijama to have a trade where students can learn electricity, plumbing, computer, carpentry, and farming. We are also key in working with Liberia on the value chain that is if you grow a cocoa bean to have a chain where the farmer gets the best pay but also the chain is used for Liberia gain from the product”.
He said there are some challenges when it comes to opening the market and having the right regulations so that Liberia can become an eco-friendly spot and have more premium cocoa and more pay.
“We have supported the construction of Fedders roads. We don’t do the big roads but the smaller roads in the rural areas. We are working with the Ministry of Public Works under this new administration to create motor tracks in the villages. This is a community and the impact that people can deliver their goods and also when it comes to health, pregnant women take two days to get to the hospital but the motor track is just hours; It is an improvement for villagers in the rural parts of Liberia,” he asserted.
