IPNEWS: Liberia’s President Joseph Boakai marks his first 100 days Wednesday, May 1, which coinciding with the international Labour Day on May 1, 2024.

In his inauguration speech, he said, “Liberians and the international community should look forward only to realistic expectations within 100 days of the new administration”.

The inauguration ceremony in Monrovia was a huge turnout, with the US delegation, headed by its Ambassador to the UN, Greenfield, the largest alongside a host of other African Presidents attended the colorful ceremony.

Within President Joseph N. Boakai’s first 100 days, the authoritative Independent Probe chronicle the achievements and Challenges.

Boakai’s government is currently on giant stride to reduce ghost workers on the country’s payroll. Despite being fully automated, in partnership with the United Bank of Africa UBA, Liberia’s ghost workers syndrome is the worst in the region. Reducing this syndrome is the main achievement of the Boakai administration.

During his first 1000 days, President Joseph Boakai has made tremendous efforts in diversifying the economy. Under the reform effort, Liberia now has commenced value addition program to the country’s major exportable resources like rubber and iron ore .

Another major step of President Joseph Boakai 100 days deliverables are tackling the issue of Drug and Substance Abuse since it declared drug and substance abuse a national emergency. At the moment the government through the Ministry of Health has now identified 123 beneficiaries of at-risk youth have been transitioned for rehabilitation and reintegration. The government has also secured 50 acres of public land in Bentol for the construction of the National Referal Hospital for addicts.

For its youth development program, the Unity Party government has allocated funds for the payment of arrears owed to local and international scholarship students. These arrears include monthly allowances, resettlement, air ticket costs, and other administrative, social, and operational costs.

The government has further made settlement of 3.5 million owed the West African Examination Council for an unsettled debt of unpaid arrears by the George Weah’s administration. The government has declared compulsory basic computer training at all high schools throughout Liberia, including the revision of the Education curriculum.

On the general sanitation condition of Liberia, particularly Monrovia, the government of Liberia within the last 100 days acquired trucks, and equipment needed and have begun clearing the sewer system in Monrovia. Similarly, begun the restoration of water supply to Central Monrovia, Bushrood Island, and Kakata City.

Under the Unity Party’s 100-day deliverable, it earmarked 11 projects for primary roads to ensure they are pliable during the rainy season. Under this project, the government has reduced substantially the harms and dangers presented for travelers on those roads across various counties.

AGRICULTURE

The revamping of the agriculture sector, and reduce rice importation to 70%, the government of Liberia has acquired and cultivated 2000 hectares of land in Bong, Lofa, and Nimba Counties. To date, the Ministry of Agriculture has begun the cultivation of 1000 hectares of land at Fouama Multipurpose Corporation in Bong County. In addition, my government has begun the cultivation of the University of Liberia farms in Fendell aimed at feeding students, generating income, and for practical research.

Amidst the many achievements within the last 100 days of office, President Joseph Boakai has also encountered serious challenges which are essential to keeping the peace. Notably, President Boakai needs to heal the deep-seated division and polarization of the Liberian society. He acknowledged this in his inauguration speech, 100 days ago. This is seen by the pattern of votes in the last elections in October, 2023, resulted in slight victory of President Boakai. Liberia is deeply divided along political and ethnic dimensions.

Another challenge confronting the Boakai’s leadership is ⁠ensuring Liberians must take charge of the economic destiny of the country. Currently, the Caucasians and the Fullahs are in control of the Liberian economy. ⁠Liberians must wake up from the current docility in economic activities. The country is resource rich, but the level of poverty is intolerable.

The Boakai’s administration is aware of the challenges, as enunciated in the ARREST manifesto program of the government.

The government has failed to give full report on the audit of the 600K inauguration budget, including the lack of the final report on the much talked about 300, 000 money involving Unity Party Chairman Rev. Luther Tarpeh money.

Liberians are yet to see the outcome on the mutiny by Army wives in early February 2024, which forced former Defense Minister Prince C. Johnson resignation.

Other issues that still lingers on the minds of Liberians are the report on the breach of security by a man who went into the presidential cycle at the graduation of the United Methodist University, and the outcome of investigation of Minister of State requesting NASSCORP to divert pensioners’ money into buying vehicles for inauguration.

At the moment the momentum on the Asset Recovery has gone colder.

The Boakai government is accused of dragging its feet on war and economic crimes signing since the Legislature passed a resolution in early April.

He also accused of lack of proffering policy on reorganizing the political economy, including cuts in expenditure and lack of reduction in the bungling bureaucracy, especially the lack of a strong economic development strategy.

“No changes at LEC. No change in macroeconomic policies. No stimulus to businesses. Nothing to increase credits to the banking sector. No new efforts to increase official development assistance. No strategic plan for any sector. No new fiscal policies. Nothing on monetary economics. No engagement with business community. “

“Instead you spent the past 100 days on fighting for jobs and venting your pugnacity. Quarrelsome. Anger. Vindictive. You did not reach out to CDCians in any form of a peace pipe. You want to show you are victorious and we are villains.” Mr. Smauel P. Jackson, prolific economist blasted the Boakai’s government.