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November 4, 2025. Monrovia, Liberia
In a detailed reflection shared in a Facebook post on Monday, November 3, 2025, former Finance Minister and now Senator Amara M. Konneh praised President Joseph Boakai’s administration for securing a major diplomatic achievement with the United States on visa reciprocity but cautioned that the government must now channel its efforts toward economic improvement and job creation to impact the lives of ordinary Liberians.
Konneh’s comments followed the release of the World Bank’s Liberia Economic Update 2025, titled “From Stabilization to Inclusion – Pathways to Resilient Growth and Productive Jobs.”
The report, published on October 29, paints a challenging picture of the Liberian economy, citing widespread poverty, high unemployment, and a weak private sector struggling to absorb the country’s rapidly growing labor force.
“The decline in mining from 11.9% to 1.8% and manufacturing from 32.4% to 7.1% underscores how fragile the recovery truly is,” Konneh noted. “Behind these numbers are real people 1.6 million Liberians living on less than three dollars a day, families struggling to keep their children in school, and communities losing faith that economic growth will ever reach them.”
According to him, the World Bank, Liberia’s life expectancy stands at just 61 years, while education levels remain among the lowest in the region.
Konneh contrasted the current administration’s performance with that of former President George Weah.
The Liberian Leader detailed that, while the GDP growth under Weah improved slightly toward the end of his term — averaging 4.8% in 2022 and 4.7% in 2023 — high inflation and a growing fiscal deficit offset those gains. “The Weah government failed to attract new investments and create jobs, leaving most citizens disconnected from the benefits of growth,” .
Under President Boakai, Konneh acknowledged progress in reducing the fiscal deficit to 2% in 2024, signaling stronger fiscal discipline. However, he pointed out that growth remains modest at 4%, with inflation still above 8%. The services and agriculture sectors, he said, are the few bright spots — supported by improved electricity and increased production of rice and rubber.
“These are encouraging signs,” Konneh stated, “but they are not yet enough to change the everyday realities of most Liberians.”
The Senator, who represents Gbarpolu County, said the administration must now move beyond stabilization to implement “bold structural reforms” that create inclusive, lasting growth. “Economic success cannot be defined by GDP alone; it must be measured by how many Liberians find work, feed their families, and live with dignity,” he emphasized.
Konneh welcomed President Boakai’s three new investment proposals recently submitted to the Legislature, which aim to promote resilient and productive jobs. However, he warned that these initiatives must translate into “real, lasting opportunities for our people — not just headlines or short-term fixes.”
He also called for stronger institutions, credible policies, and a renewed commitment to fighting corruption. Citing the U.S. Department of State’s 2025 Investment Climate Report, Konneh noted concerns that some officials view investors as “opportunities for short-term graft rather than long-term partners in growth.”
Quoting him, “If we want to attract serious investors, we must enforce the rule of law consistently, treat investors fairly, and show that Liberia is open for business — not exploitation,” he urged.
The Senator further pressed the government to empower Liberian-owned enterprises by fully implementing the Liberia Small Business Empowerment Act, which reserves 25% of public procurement for local businesses and 5% for women entrepreneurs. He also underscored the need for increased funding in education to improve both quality and relevance, ensuring young Liberians are better prepared for the job market.
Konneh challenged his colleagues in the Legislature to act swiftly on the President’s investment proposals and align the upcoming FY2026 budget with the administration’s Arrest Agenda, focusing on agriculture, health, infrastructure, and education.
To conclude, Konneh reemphasized ,while he remained optimistic about Liberia’s potential to achieve double-digit growth, he also warned that such figures would be meaningless without jobs and inclusion. “We have stabilized the ship now we must steer it toward prosperity,” he said. “The next 12 months will define not just President Boakai’s legacy, but Liberia’s future. Our people are watching, and their hopes depend on what we do next.”
