Liberia Development Agenda Gets Unprecedented Boost

Against the background of Liberia’s meteoric climb on recent World Bank development ranking, which now places the once war ravaged West African nation among the “world fastest developing economies”, representatives from the Legislative and Executive branches of government participating in an ongoing World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings in Washington, have joined forces in high level discussions with the World Bank and the IMF to mobilize resources for post-conflict Liberia infrastructure development.

During two high level meetings with the World Bank Institute, and the Bank’s Country Director for Liberia, Ghana and Sierra Leone, Yusufu Crookes, Senator Sumo Kupee, Chairman on Ways, Means and Finance joined Finance Minister Amara Konneh Wednesday to showcase Liberia’s Agenda for Transformation (AfT), as well as amplify the urgency for financial resources towards the successful implementation of the Agenda for Transformation.,

“We have no option but to work together as a government,” Sen. Kupee declared. He stressed the need for Liberia’s three branches of government to work together for one goal which is to serve the people of Liberia.

“I think it’s a consensus that if we (legislators) understand what the executive is doing, ratification, which is our approval by our people through the legislature, will become easier and the process of transformation goes much faster,” Senator Kupee stated.

Sen. Kupee informed the World Bank officials that the presence of members of the national legislature on the Liberian delegation indicates that “we have opened a new page. The consultation between the legislature and the executive has broadened. Our cooperation is in the national interest.”

The Liberian lawmaker from Lofa County said the legislative team is pleased to team up with the head of delegation, Minister Konneh to tell the story of Liberia’s urgent need for resources to develop its infrastructure and also to indicate that the legislature is standing by, without compromising its oversight and efficiency, to pass those legislations that will make the transformation better for the country.

“We cannot acquire loan until it is enacted by law, so that means as government, we need to work together with the executive, first to understand the need for the fund and approve it in an expeditious way so that transformation will take its rightful place,” an elated Liberian lawmaker told the World Bank officials Wednesday.

Sen. Kupee reiterated that the national legislature agreed to form part of the Liberian delegation to the meetings to demonstrate its commitment as a partner in progress in ensuring that Liberia’s development agenda is fully on course without any hindrance.

“As I go back, I will carry the message that the World Bank has recommitted itself to our partnership and we in the legislature must continue our effort to support our country’s development agenda,” Senator Kupee pointed out, thanking Minister Konneh for passionately articulating the progress and challenges in Liberia.