The Economic Community of West African States laments Liberia’s failed leadership.
By Lincoln G. Peters
Monrovia, Liberia; October 1, 2025 – The Resident Representative of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to Liberia, Josephine Nkrumah, says leadership has failed Liberia, while challenging the Press to take a keen interest in President Joseph N. Boakai’s government ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development to hold the government accountable.
Delivering the keynote address at the Press Union of Liberia 61st Anniversary Celebration on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, held under the theme: Commemorating our past, constructing our future”, Ambassador Nkrumah said the basis of her statement is based on a nationwide tour when she came to Liberia to ascertain infrastructure development and economic challenges of Liberians.
She reflected that when she came to Liberia in 2022, and conducted a tour, she learnt that some of the counties visited were certainly established before the existence of the Press Union of Liberia, but during her visit, she was confronted with a stark reality that development began and ended not only in Montserrado, but in Monrovia.
“I saw some counties, and I was in a state of shock. I said that for a country that has existed longer than any other country on the continent of Africa, to see the level of underdevelopment was sad. And I remember looking at someone and saying Since Liberia’s establishment about 177 years now, but at that time, I think it was about 174 years; I said, my God, leadership has failed this nation.” Amb. Nkrumah noted.
Disappointingly, she disclosed that she was saddened not just because of the lack of infrastructure, but was equally saddened because, in that year, it was reported that Liberia, with its vast natural resources, even in instances where any crop is disposed of, will germinate into something edible.
“But, in that year, Liberia was among and on the World Hunger Index at one hundred thirteen, out of one hundred twenty-one countries. And I said to myself, Liberia has no business being a nation of hunger. Liberia has the ability to be the breadbasket of West Africa, I believe sincerely”, the ECOWAS envoy stated.
She indicated that is why she fully aligns with President Joseph N. Boakai and the government of Liberia’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, of the Pillar of Agriculture.
“I believe agriculture will drive Liberia’s transformation. I want to challenge you to take a keen interest in the government’s Arrest Agenda for Inclusive Development and to hold the government accountable for its implementation of that agenda. Hold the government accountable in a manner that is objective, analytical, and in a manner that serves the people to make an informed decision “, Ambassador Nkrumah urged.
She believes that a press that is not free and plays its role will underserve the nation it belongs to, while adding that transformation will be difficult to achieve because the Press will have failed the people by failing to hold them accountable.
“Because it will allow the leadership to desist from that which it has promised the people, for which they were voted into power. There is no one among us who doesn’t want genuine transformation for this country. And that transformation, you have a role to play. So, just because a political figure, head of an institution, gives a little financial support at the end of an event, you will not feel challenged by what they put out. And if they put out the truth, you must also put that out. The press is not just there to criticize, but to expose truth because the press is the watchdog”. She concluded. Editing by Jonathan Browne
