Author: Julius Konton

By: Julius Konton Liberia’s Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, has mounted a robust defense of the government’s economic record following President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s third State of the Nation Address, insisting that infrastructure-led growth not political rhetoric is already reshaping the country’s economic fundamentals. Speaking to journalists in Monrovia, Ngafuan acknowledged mounting criticism from opposition figures and economic skeptics but framed the debate as a normal feature of democratic governance. “The government will continue to do its work, and the critics will continue to do their work which is to criticize,” Ngafuan said. “Projects are implemented…

By: Julius Konton President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has placed legislation at the center of his governance strategy, portraying the passage and proposal of key laws as essential tools for reforming Liberia’s political institutions, stabilizing the economy, and reshaping the country’s post-conflict governance architecture. Yet, while the administration touts progress made in 2025, critics argue that delays, controversial bills, and unresolved reforms expose deeper structural challenges facing the Liberian state. Delivering his Third State of the Nation Address, President Boakai outlined what his administration describes as a reform-driven legislative agenda, emphasizing collaboration with the Legislature to “strengthen institutions, grow the economy,…

By: Julius Konton President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s claim that his administration has created or facilitated 70,000 jobs nationwide has ignited a fierce national debate, exposing deep divisions between government officials, economic analysts, and opposition figures over what constitutes “job creation” in one of West Africa’s most fragile economies. While the Executive Mansion has framed the disclosure made during President Boakai’s Third State of the Nation Address (SONA) as evidence of economic momentum, critics argue the figure risks becoming a politically convenient statistic rather than a reflection of lived economic reality. Amid mounting skepticism, a financial expert has released a detailed…

By: Julius Konton The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has confirmed that Liberia’s economy expanded by 5.1 percent in 2025, signaling a strengthening recovery as the country advances through its economic reform program under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF). The confirmation follows the successful conclusion of discussions under the Third Review of Liberia’s ECF Arrangement, conducted by an IMF staff mission led by Daehaeng Kim, which visited Monrovia from January 7 to January 20, 2026. The mission reached a staff-level agreement with the Government of Liberia, paving the way for continued IMF financial and technical support. A Major Milestone Under the…

By: Julius Konton President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has highlighted what his administration describes as tangible progress in Liberia’s civil service, education, and health sectors, framing the reforms as part of a broader attempt to dismantle decades of inefficiency, patronage, and post civil war institutional fragility. Delivering his third State of the Nation Address on Monday at the Capitol Building in Monrovia, Boakai underscored reforms carried out in 2025, particularly within the Civil Service Agency (CSA), a key institution historically criticized for bloated payrolls, weak accountability, and political interference. Civil Service Reform: Merit Over PatronageAccording to the President, the CSA intensified…

By: Julius Konton President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s third State of the Nation Address (SONA), delivered Monday on the grounds of Liberia’s Capitol Building, has ignited mixed reactions across political, civil society, and international policy circles highlighting the enduring tension between reform rhetoric and structural realities in one of West Africa’s most fragile democracies. Speaking in fulfillment of Article 58 of the Liberian Constitution, Boakai placed transparency, accountability, and institutional reform at the center of his address. Yet analysts say the speech while heavy on statistics and policy frameworks exposed the administration’s struggle to translate governance reforms into tangible public confidence…

By: Julius Konton President Joseph Nyuma Boakai on Monday delivered his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) to the Liberian people, a constitutionally mandated annual report that arrives at a moment of institutional strain, cautious economic recovery, and unresolved political trauma. Speaking not from the historic joint chamber of the Legislature but once again from the Capitol’s outdoor courtyard Boakai underscored a sobering reality: Liberia’s democracy remains under physical and symbolic repair following the 2024 arson attack on the Capitol Building, an incident that shook public confidence and exposed deep political fault lines. A Constitution Observed, a Crisis Remembered…

By: Julius Konton President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s third State of the Nation Address (SONA), delivered in late January in accordance with Liberia’s constitutional mandate, presented a confident narrative of economic stabilization and renewed growth. Yet behind the optimistic figures lies a more complex and contested reality one that reflects both genuine macroeconomic progress and persistent structural fragility in one of West Africa’s most aid-dependent economies. The speech marked a critical political moment for Boakai, whose administration inherited an economy still recovering from years of post-war underinvestment, governance deficits, the Ebola crisis, and the economic aftershocks of COVID-19 and global inflation…

By: Julius Konton The Government of Liberia and the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) have signed a US$30 million financing agreement for the upgrading of the Salayea–Konia Road in Lofa County, alongside an additional US$700,000 grant aimed at strengthening health services along the Gbarnga–Voinjama Road Corridor, a critical artery linking northern Liberia to regional markets. The agreement marks a significant milestone in Liberia’s post-conflict infrastructure rehabilitation agenda and underscores growing cooperation between Liberia and Arab development partners in advancing inclusive growth, regional integration, and social resilience. Strategic Infrastructure with Regional Impact The Salayea–Konia Road forms part of…

By Julius Konton The Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia (AFELL) has renewed urgent calls for the Liberian National Legislature to fast-track the passage of the Women and Girls Protection Act, a landmark bill aimed at criminalizing female genital mutilation (FGM) and other harmful practices, as the country grapples with political resistance and deep-rooted cultural divisions. The appeal was delivered by Cllr. Bowoulo Taylor Kelley, Vice President of AFELL, during the third convening of the Clooney Foundation for Justice’s “Waging Justice for Women” Fellowship, held in Ghana. Speaking as a panelist on “Strategic Litigation in Practice: Female Genital Mutilation,” Cllr.…