Address By: His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. President of the Republic of Liberia at the West Africa Economic Summit (WAES) 2025. Abuja International Conference Centre

Address By: His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr.
President of the Republic of Liberia at the West Africa Economic Summit (WAES) 2025. Abuja International Conference Centre

Abuja, Federal Republic of Nigeria
Saturday, June 21, 2025

Your Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government;
Your Excellencies, Presidents and Heads of State and Government of the ECOWAS Authority;
Esteemed Leaders of the ECOWAS Commission;
Honorable Ministers;
Representatives of International Organizations, the Private Sector and NGOs;
Trade Representatives;
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen:

It is an honor to join this important gathering of Heads of State and Government, economic policymakers, business leaders, and regional stakeholders who remain committed to the cause of a peaceful, prosperous, and integrated West Africa, in this gathering of leaders.

On behalf of the Government and people of Liberia, I bring you warm greetings and best wishes for a productive and inspiring summit.

Let me first extend special appreciation to my friend and Brother, His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, for his visionary leadership and for convening this timely and strategic Summit.

This Summit, being held in the ambience of our Community’s golden jubilee, provides a vital platform for reflection, coordination, and renewed commitment to the economic transformation of our sub-region. Even after 50 years of our existence and work, the challenges we face are still present and complex, but they are not insurmountable.

Your Excellencies, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen;

It gives me great pleasure to officially inform this distinguished gathering of Liberia’s recent election to a Non-Permanent Seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2026 to 2027 term.

This milestone would not have been possible without the support, encouragement, and endorsement of Member States in this very room. Liberia is humbled by this vote of confidence. We view it not only as a national honor but as a reflection of our collective aspiration to contribute meaningfully to global peace, dialogue, and multilateralism.

We pledge to carry this mandate with humility and responsibility, drawing on Liberia’s unique post-conflict experience and our unwavering belief in diplomacy, peace-building, and international cooperation.

Your Excellencies;

As we chart a path toward economic renewal, consistent with the well thought out theme of this Submit, Liberia strongly supports the African Continental Free Trade Area as a transformative platform for economic integration.

Our budgetary priorities are increasingly focused on sustainable agriculture and rural transformation, aligning with the AfCFTA’s goals. We are investing in road networks and port infrastructure to support the seamless movement of goods and services across our borders.

These actions reflect Liberia’s determination to play an active role in the regional and continental value chain. Liberia has also identified several priority sectors for strategic investment:
• Agriculture, where we seek to scale productivity, increase food security, and promote agribusiness.
• Ports and Logistics, where efforts are underway to modernize the Free Port of Monrovia and other key gateways to improve competitiveness and trade efficiency.
• Energy, where we are expanding access to affordable and reliable electricity to support economic diversification and industrial development.
• Digital Economy, where we are investing in infrastructure and human capital to enable innovation and position Liberia as a destination for technology-driven enterprise.

We are working in close coordination with ECOWAS and the Mano River Union to harmonize policies, reduce trade barriers, and enhance competitiveness.

Through the implementation of our recently launched ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, Liberia is pursuing comprehensive reform to foster economic growth, strengthen institutions, and improve public service delivery. Our vision is to transform Liberia into a stable, transparent, and attractive destination for private sector investment and inclusive development.

Excellencies, Distinguished Heads of Government and Delegation, Ladies and Gentlemen;

Peace and stability are the foundation upon which all economic aspirations must rest. Liberia remains fully committed to promoting productive sub-regional interaction, peace, national cohesion, and democratic governance throughout the region. We continue to avail ourselves to the ECOWAS Community in critical areas of mediation, conflict prevention, and post-crisis stabilization.

At the 66th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority, Liberia called for renewed dialogue with Member States who have taken a divergent path.

Today, I wish to echo that appeal. We must keep the door open for engagement and reconciliation, especially to our sister states that have unfortunately exited the Community.

With Liberia’s ascension to the Security Council, we are determined to be a principled voice for the region, advocating for just solutions to global and regional challenges and advancing the values that unite us.

I commend each of you for your steadfast leadership and for the efforts you continue to make in advancing the goals of economic integration and prosperity.

Let us seize this opportunity to deepen our collaboration, mobilize our collective resources, and transform the potential of our region into lasting progress for our people.

Long live the Economic Community of West African States.

I thank you, and may the Almighty continue to bless our efforts.