By Stephanie M. Duncan
MONROVIA– President Joseph N. Boakai has positioned job creation, financial enlargement, and institutional reform on the middle of his 2026 agenda, outlining a wide-ranging plan to strengthen livelihoods and speed up nationwide growth throughout his Annual Message to the Legislature.
Talking in success of Article 58 of the Liberian Structure, the President mentioned his Administration’s second 12 months in workplace targeted on stabilizing the financial system, restoring confidence, and laying the groundwork for sustainable progress. He emphasised that job creation stays a prime precedence, pushed by investments in infrastructure, agriculture, power, and youth enterprise underneath the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Growth.
In accordance with the President, greater than 70,000 short- and medium-term jobs have already been created throughout infrastructure, agriculture, social safety, and small companies. Trying forward, the Youth Entrepreneurship and Funding Financial institution, launched in 2025, is anticipated to assist 30,000 youth-led companies and generate over 120,000 direct and oblique jobs nationwide. A Nationwide Employment Acceleration Technique, presently being finalized, will additional broaden alternatives in agriculture, public works, abilities coaching, and small enterprise growth.
On the financial system, President Boakai reported that Liberia recorded 5.1 p.c progress in 2025, exceeding projections and outperforming the earlier 12 months. He attributed the expansion to robust efficiency in mining, agriculture, fisheries, and providers, noting that mining alone expanded by 17 p.c whereas exports rose by greater than 31 p.c. Inflation fell to 4 p.c, the bottom stage in over 20 years, easing stress on family incomes.
The President highlighted main funding agreements signed in 2025, together with offers with ArcelorMittal Liberia and Ivanhoe for the Yekepa–Buchanan rail hall, representing almost US$4 billion in dedicated investments. The deliberate reactivation of the Putu Iron Ore Mine is anticipated to spice up employment and growth in Grand Gedeh County and the southeastern area, whereas new petroleum agreements may appeal to an extra US$800 million in funding.
Agriculture, described because the “coronary heart of the ARREST Agenda,” featured prominently within the deal with. President Boakai mentioned over 198,000 farmers obtained authorities assist in 2025, contributing to elevated rice, cocoa, and aquaculture manufacturing. Improved feeder roads and market entry helped transfer greater than 33,000 Liberians from meals insecurity to meals safety, whereas expanded agribusiness and mechanization plans for 2026 are anticipated to create further rural jobs.
Infrastructure growth additionally emerged as a key driver of employment. The President reported vital progress in highway development and upkeep, with paved roads rising from underneath 12 p.c to about 20 p.c of the nationwide community. He introduced the upcoming arrival of 285 yellow machines to assist highway works and catastrophe response, a transfer anticipated to create jobs at county ranges and enhance connectivity for commerce.
Within the power sector, President Boakai mentioned expanded electrical energy entry is supporting small companies and industrial progress. Over 63,000 new connections had been made in 2025, with plans for 100,000 further connections in 2026. Main energy tasks—together with gas-to-power, photo voltaic, and hydropower initiatives—are anticipated to stimulate funding and employment whereas decreasing manufacturing prices.
Past job creation, the President underscored reforms aimed toward strengthening governance and accountability. He urged lawmakers to move pending laws, together with the Presidential Transition Act, Civil Service Fee Act, and amendments to anti-corruption legal guidelines. He additionally introduced plans to ascertain a Nationwide Planning Fee, a Nationwide Highway Authority, and a common medical insurance program.
President Boakai concluded by reaffirming his Administration’s dedication to inclusive progress, transparency, and repair to the Liberian folks, noting that whereas progress has been made, sustained effort and unity are required. “The positive factors we now have recorded are a basis,” he mentioned, “and clear proof that purposeful management can ship outcomes.”
As Liberia enters 2026, the President expressed confidence that continued funding, job creation, and reforms underneath the ARREST Agenda will strengthen the financial system and enhance the lives of residents throughout the nation.
Alphonso Toweh
Has been within the career for over twenty years. He has labored for a lot of worldwide media shops together with: West Africa Journal, Africa Week Journal, African Observer and did occasional reporting for CNN, BBC World Service, Sunday Occasions, NPR, Radio Deutchewells, Radio Netherlands. He’s the present correspondent for Reuters
He holds first MA with honors in Worldwide Relations and a candidate for second grasp in Worldwide Peace research and Battle Decision from the College of Liberia.
