-Liberians react to Boakai’s 100-Day Action Plan assessment report
By Jerromie S. Walters
As the Boakai-Koung 100-Day Action Plan assessment report examines the Government’s progress consistent with her short-term policy priorities, WomenVoices looks into what Liberians make of the report and government performance in its first 100 days in office.
The plan was developed to address the critical needs of the Liberian people while laying the foundation for the development of a medium-term plan. However, Liberians have made mixed reactions toward the government report as they weighed in on its performance regarding the different apt sectors.
Jenneh Taylor, an elderly Liberian outside Monrovia says the government 100-Day Action Plan assessment report is far from what Liberians have experienced since President Boakai’s ascendency to state power on January 22, 2024. “No, we don’t trust the report because he didn’t do everything he put there. He has not done something that will make us happy.” She’s not among those that believe that Mr. Baokai’s leadership can change her life but she prayed for the best as the government leads.
But Michael Davis, a young Liberian student grades the government “Very good” in terms of its 100-day performance. He believes the government performed excellent when it comes to curbing drugs in Liberia in its first 100 days. Michael is also among those Liberians who are certain that the Boakai-Koung administration can change their lives if things go well.
On the other hand, Cruse Tamba, a Liberian in central Monrovia says he doesn’t trust Mr. Boakai’s government’s 100-day action plan assessment report. “No, I don’t trust the report, because the President told us that in 100 days the [Major] roads will be pliable and the Minister [Public Works] told us in an open interview that it was a political statement made by the President so it’s not a reality.” Considering Very Good, Good, Poor, and Very Poor, Tamba grades the Liberian leader “Very Poor” for his 100-day performance in office. “There is nothing seeable in the 100-day deliverable that is taking effect.”
However, he commends President Boakai’s administration with direct efforts by the Monrovia City Corporation for enforcing city ordinance. “We will commend the President for city ordinance. The City Mayor of Monrovia [Mr. Siafa] is doing well.” Tamba went on to grade the President’s gender policy as “Poor”. This is because he said much has not been done by the President to address issues of rape and other forms of violence.
“Gender policy, I grade the president poor. They are killing people in the streets, they are massacring females and the president is not saying anything.” On the other hand, Tamba doesn’t believe that the government can change his life. “The car was in drive but since (President) Boakai took over it’s in reverse.” Unlike Tamba and others, Ma. Rachael believes the government tried in its 100 days, but encouraged the need for more to be done.
Still in central Monrovia, Emmanuel Glamyoul, a local businessman agreed with the government’s 100-Day Action Plan assessment report. He referenced city ordinance as one of many testaments to the government’s unique performance in its first 100 days. “I can see the sidewalk (S). The way Broad Street was packed first (Before) when you are walking you will be hitting people, now it’s better.” He added, “I will grade them good because they are trying their best.”
On January 22, 2024, the Unity Party Alliance (UPA) led Government was inaugurated with Mr. Joseph Boakai as President of the Republic of Liberia. In his inaugural and State of the Nation addresses, the President committed to carrying out several interventions in critical priority sectors within his first 100 days in office to create immediate relief as well as to restore citizens’ confidence in the Government.
The strategic design of the 100-Day Action Plan was based on a deep understanding of the current governance and microeconomic situation and the challenges that needed immediate action. Rooted in the vision of the Unity Party Alliance (UPA) campaign manifesto and its Agriculture, Roads, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation and Health, Tourism (ARREST) framework.
The Boakai-Koung 100-Day Action Plan assessment report examines the Government’s progress consistent with her short-term policy priorities. The plan was developed to address the critical needs of the Liberian people while laying the foundation for the development of a medium-term plan.
In its 100-Day Action Plan assessment report, the Government of Liberia praised itself as it states that it has, within a short period, they have improved transparency and accountability in the governance space by enforcing the rule of law, strengthening financial oversight, and promoting ethical practices across all sectors to combat corruption effectively.
“The improvement of infrastructure with special emphasis on making primary roads pliable during all seasons, and upgrading ICT and meteorological equipment at Liberia’s premier airport, Roberts International Airport (RIA), are a few outstanding accomplishments. Furthermore, the fight against drugs and the provision of educational opportunities to youth is a notable progress. The Government appropriated US$23,488,543 for the successful implementation of the plan. The recalling and resubmission of the FY2024 National Budget delayed the implementation of key 100-day deliverables.”
It adds: “The total number of interventions in the 100-Day Action Plan is 87. There are 20 funded interventions constituting 23 percent of the total while the remaining 67 interventions are routine, representing 77 percent. The status of the interventions is either completed, ongoing, or pending. The ongoing and completed constitute the progress made so far. The report combines the completed and ongoing interventions because some interventions such as road maintenance, drainage, and sewage cleaning are ongoing. Therefore, the combined number of completed and ongoing interventions is 64 which constitutes 74 percent of the total interventions; while the remaining 20 interventions representing 26 percent are pending. The pending routine interventions were delayed because the government was still being constituted, delays due to the recalling of the budget, and funding constraints.“
However, the government critics have argued that the 100-Day Action Plan assessment report doesn’t match reality. In its 100-day report, the government says the Agriculture census and data collection have been completed; the National Agriculture Development Plan drafted and is awaiting validation, and Liberia’s Food Security Strategy is at 95% completion.
Under Road (Infrastructure), the government notes that Critical spots across the country are currently being aggressively worked on in anticipation of the rainy season (clearing, grading, shaping, and stabilizing of critical spots are ongoing). Critical spots across the country are being maintained and made pliable.
In Rule of Law: the current administration says the fight against drugs and substance abuse is on course with massive awareness and enforcement efforts thereby apprehending and bringing to justice over 200 suspected drug dealers. Howbeit, a lot of Liberians have acknowledged this.
In terms of Education: The GoL states that it has commenced the payment of arrears for WASSCE fees as well as local and international scholarship students. Youth Capacity Building in Information & Communication Technology (ICT) is well on course. In efforts towards Sanitation (Energy and Environment): The government referenced the cleaning of sewage lines which has commenced across central Monrovia.
Additionally: Water reservoirs in Monrovia and Paynesville have been repaired at 95%. Impressively, water was recently restored to central Monrovia after several years. The Caldwell water facility has significantly been repaired. The Liberia Electricity Corporation negotiated an increase in power capacity supply from Cote D’Ivoire Energies from 25 MW to 50 MW.
The LEC launched a project for the electrification of the area covering St. Paul Bridge to Po-River and gaps areas along the Kakata corridor including Johnsonville and Careysburg. Marshall, RIA electrified and Edward Beyan Kesselly (EBK) Barrack have been connected to the National Electricity grid.Public Administration: The FY 2024 draft National Budget has been resubmitted to the National Legislature and has met the concurrence of both houses.
Additionally: Payroll and personnel audits across the Government are ongoing; Digitizing revenue transaction system across the Government has been initiated; o The National Consultancy Policy of Liberia has been launched; Liberia Integrated Tax Administration System (LITAS) has been integrated with 3 banks (Ecobank, GT Bank, and International Bank Liberia Limited); All diplomatic Passports were recalled and reissued where applicable.
The Government of Liberia notes that it has made the following accomplishments in the health sector: Transitioned 123 beneficiaries of the At-Risk Youth program from rehabilitation to recovery and reintegration; following the President’s declaration of substance abuse as a national emergency, Secured 15 domestic scholarships annually through the Ministry of Education for Mental Health Clinicians to pursue master’s degree in Advanced Practice Clinical Psychiatric Mental Health; Last mile distribution of drugs and medical consumables to Montserrado and Margibi Counties has been completed Sites have been identified for the construction of four regional diagnostic centers; Consignment of rapid diagnostic test kits distributed to 70% of clinics and communities around the country.
The FY2024 budget was recalled, revised, and resubmitted to reflect the new Government’s priorities. Due to resource constraints, the GoL appropriated US$23,488,543 for the implementation of its 100-Day Action Plan. The funded interventions ranged from accelerating the fight against corruption, making primary roads pliable in all seasons, fight against drugs and substance abuse to the commencement of training 10,000 youths in ICT across the country.
This report considers progress made toward the implementation of the funded and routine activities. Depending on the nature of the intervention, some interventions have been completed, some have commenced, while others are yet to begin.
