The Ankara Newspaper has reported that Indonesia has signed health sector deals worth 94.1 million US dollars with several African nations, including Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Tanzania, South Africa, and Namibia. In contrast, the Executive Mansion’s updates from President Boakai’s recent trip indicate that he merely unveiled investment opportunities and invited Indonesian companies to invest in Liberia, after which Indonesian President Widodo expressed interest in collaborating with Liberia.
While I remain hopeful that our country can benefit from these high-profile visits, I have growing concerns about our preparedness for such international engagements.
1. Follow-Up on Commitments: Following his election victory and prior to his inauguration, President-elect Boakai traveled to the US with Senator Amara Konneh and others, where they engaged with key stakeholders in the US government and multilateral institutions. During this trip, tens of millions were pledged to the new government. However, Senator Konneh later revealed in an OK Conversation that no progress has been made due to a lack of necessary follow-ups from the Executive. Despite my attempts to reach out, the Executive Mansion has not addressed these claims.
2. US-Africa Business Summit: President Boakai made another trip to the US for the US-Africa Business Summit. While significant deals were announced involving various countries, we only heard of interests in Liberia without concrete outcomes.
3. South Korea Visit: During a subsequent trip to South Korea, after presenting investment opportunities, the South Korean President indicated a willingness to invest in Liberia but emphasized that it was “contingent upon a detailed plan” from our government. This raises concerns that our large delegation traveled without a comprehensive strategy, resulting in missed opportunities as other nations secured deals.
4. Black Business Forum: In a recent visit to the US to speak at the Black Business Forum, we again heard about interests and commitments, but no substantial results have emerged.
From my experience covering the previous administration and the 2013 Liberian delegation to the US General Assembly, it was evident that the Executive Mansion and Foreign Affairs technicians meticulously prepared details and plans prior to presidential visits. This proactive approach allowed for immediate benefits. Unfortunately, it seems this level of preparation has not been consistently maintained under the current administration, echoing similar issues faced by the previous CDC government.
As the world accelerates, other nations are moving forward swiftly. Liberia must adopt a more strategic, serious, and intentional approach in its international dealings. Our government should take the initiative to engage partners actively, ensuring that we are the ones driving the conversation and not waiting for reminders about follow-ups.
I hope this administration learns from the past and can improve its international relations efforts. With Ngafuan’s upcoming appointment, I trust he will be empowered to make a significant impact.
Moreover, I remain optimistic that China could provide better results than previous engagements, given their pragmatic development diplomacy. It’s crucial we resolve any diplomatic tensions and avoid repeating mistakes that led to the stalling of Chinese projects in Liberia during the previous government.
