President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has called on Liberians to place strong and sustained emphasis on the development of quality infrastructure, noting that sound infrastructure is a foundation for national prosperity and inclusive growth.
President Boakai speaking at the opening of the National Infrastructure Conference in Gompa City, Nimba County said, Liberians must build infrastructure that meets international standards that is resilient to climate change, generates employment, stimulates enterprise, and promotes equitable growth.
โYes, we must build back and build better,โ the President said, stressing, โBuild better in the sense that the infrastructure we build today and tomorrow must compete with the rest of the world, be resilient to natural elements and climate change, generate jobs, grow industry, stimulate enterprise, promote growth equity, and, more crucially, build a cohesive and open society, with no one left behind.โ
Referencing former United States President John F. Kennedy, President Boakai quoted, โAmerican roads are not good because America is rich, but America is rich because American roads are good.โ He added that Liberia, too, will become wealthy and prosperous when it commits itself to building and maintaining good infrastructure.
he further that the National Infrastructure Conference aligns with the vision of the ARREST Agenda and his Administrationโs approach to deliberate, inclusive, and forward-looking development, consistent with Africaโs Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals.
He urged Liberians to move beyond fragmented efforts and short-term solutions toward coordinated systems that make use of modern technology and innovation to serve both present and future generations.
โThe moment demands readiness โ of our institutions, our policies, and our leadership,โ President Boakai said, describing the Conference as a national call to action.
The President stressed that infrastructure development must go beyond physical assets and reflect a human-centered approach that protects dignity and secures the future of the nation.
โWe should see roads and bridges beyond concrete and steel; energy systems beyond wires and turbines; and water systems beyond pipes,โ he said, adding, โThey are the lifelines that shape opportunity, productivity, and national confidence.โ
The Conference, which has been in preparation for nearly two years, brings together senior government officials, members of the Legislature, development partners, diplomats, private sector leaders, and representatives of the Liberian diaspora to chart a practical and forward looking course for the countryโs infrastructure future.
