President George M. Weah says his government will recalibrate in the next three years in finding lasting solution to the Liberian economic situation in order to make it easy for Liberians to have food on their table. While doing so, the President has urged all cabinet Ministers working in the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) government to take note in fulfilment of the Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD).
The President made the statement Monday, January 25, 2021 on Capitol Hill during the presentation of his fourth annual report, in accordance with Article 58 of the Constitution of the Republic of Liberia. President Weah told Liberians that the CDC government has gone three years and is now in midterm, so there is no need for excuse in delivering promises made during the campaign period. The President has therefore cautioned all officials of government to take their job seriously in the last three years in order to meet up with the needs of Liberians.
According to President Weah, “In spite of these daunting challenges, our development drive has not been derailed. We understand some of the personal and collective challenges you face in your lives. We feel the pain you feel on a day-to-day basis as you seek to put bread on your table.
“I too have felt the pain of hunger and poverty.
“I have mandated the entire machinery of my administration to recalibrate and enhance the focus on finding lasting solutions to the bread and better issues facing our people.
“Therefore, there will be no room for error, no room for laxity. All ministers and officials. Take note!”
According to President Weah, Liberia’s democracy is growing, and it was proved by the conduct of the December 8 midterm senatorial election, when Liberians decided on whom to represent them in the Liberian Senate through their votes. He vowed to focus more on road connection in order to have the fifteenth counties of Liberia connected.
Speaking on the agriculture sector, the President called on Liberians to “go back to the soil and grow what we eat”. The President emphasized that he will personally focus on the agriculture sector and ensure that funding is allotted to the ministry in order to carry out agricultural activities across the country.
Speaking on peace, President Weah recounted, “It has been approximately 3 years since the United Nations Mission force, UNMIL departed from Liberia after serving as the bastion of our national security. Since their departure, we as a Government and a People, have not only maintained the peace, but secured it unbroken. However, peace and security also comes with good governance and adherence to the rule of law.
“During the period under review, the government has gone to extreme lengths to ensure that the fundamental rights of all citizens were guaranteed under the law. The government will continue to hold on to its responsibility and perform its duties under the Constitution. We therefore want to call on all Liberians, irrespective of political, ethnic, religious or social differences to work in the interest of peace.
“In this regard, we applaud the relentless efforts of our steadfast partner for the last 75 years, the United Nations, and its related agencies, to help build peace, lasting stability, promote human rights and spur development. Over the past year, the United Nations has consistently provided political support and accompaniment in sustaining peace, as well as coordinate policy, program and operations for peace consolidation and delivering on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals.”
The President’s fourth State-of-the-Nation Address was in two folds: the first portion was directed to the members of the National Legislature, in fulfillment of his Constitutional mandate, while the second portion was directly to the Liberian people.
He told Liberians that “my Administration’s commitment remains unwavering when it comes to the transformational development of Liberia within the framework of an accountable and functional democracy.
“This is not only my ambition, this is my determination. In order to do so, however, it will require that you rally to the cause, and make your own personal commitment to national development. This is our country. Just as it belongs to all of us, it will require the collective effort of all of us to improve it. No one person can do it for us, and we must not expect any one from outside to do it for us.
“As I have often said, I have my vision, and I will fulfill my mission. That vision is fully set out and captured in the Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development, and my mission is to fulfill that vision through the development of this country and the betterment of the lives of the Liberian people.”