By: Bravo Johnson – Contributor
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has directed his Cabinet to prioritize measurable results, improve public service delivery and strengthen accountability, warning that government officials who fail to perform their duties risk replacement.
The President issued the warning Friday, October 23, at the opening of his administration’s 25th Cabinet meeting at the Executive Mansion in Monrovia, where officials reviewed measures to accelerate the implementation of government priorities. “It’s not a friendship club. It’s not a family club. Make people work. If they don’t work, sometimes we have to replace them,” Boakai said.
The meeting, held under the theme “Performance and Delivery,” focused on tracking government decisions, monitoring progress across ministries and agencies, and establishing a citizens’ feedback mechanism to assess the quality of public services. The President emphasized that officials must demonstrate tangible progress as his administration enters the final three years of its six-year term.
President Boakai also stressed the need for regular performance reporting, saying government officials must account for what they do, how quickly they do it and the quality of their work. He warned against allowing appointed officials to occupy public offices without making meaningful contributions to national development.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet endorsed a job creation strategy targeting more than 1,000 jobs across sectors, including agriculture and public works, within 15 months. The strategy is intended to serve as part of broader efforts toward developing a comprehensive five-year national employment plan.
The Cabinet also approved the establishment of standing committees to examine technical policy proposals before submitting recommendations to the full Cabinet for consideration. The measure is expected to strengthen coordination and improve the review of policy initiatives before final decisions are made.
In another decision, the Cabinet endorsed a proposal from the Liberia Revenue Authority to improve revenue generation through technology-assisted registration and tracking of cell phones entering the country. The initiative is intended to strengthen the monitoring of mobile devices and support domestic revenue collection.
On public infrastructure, Boakai urged officials responsible for awarding and supervising government contracts to ensure that contractors deliver quality projects within agreed timelines. He cited renovation work at the University of Liberia in stressing that public projects must meet acceptable standards, insisting that “The Liberians deserve the best. And should not compromise on quality.”
