By Sara Camara
Monrovia, Liberia – In a powerful and unambiguous address that reverberated through the EJS Ministerial Complex, African Development Bank (AfDB) outgoing President Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina delivered a scathing critique to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s administration on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. With a thunderous declaration, Dr. Adesina stated, “If you don’t want to be a Minister, don’t ask for the job!”
Dr. Adesina’s straightforward warning came during the ongoing High-Level Expanded Cabinet Meeting and the official launch of the Liberia Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank (YEIB), an initiative aimed at transforming youth-led innovation and private sector development.
Known for his uncompromising development leadership across the continent, the AfDB President minced no words in warning Liberian government officials to “get serious or get out.” He declared that Liberia’s time for “lip service is over,” and that “action is now the only acceptable currency.”
“You asked for the opportunity to serve. Now serve! This country needs transformation, not decoration. No more excuses,” Dr. Adesina asserted, drawing strong applause from the audience, with President Boakai seated alongside him.
His remarks directly challenged cabinet ministers and top public officials, urging them to stop “chasing titles” and instead focus on delivering tangible results for a nation still grappling with the profound scars of underdevelopment, mis-governance, and prevalent youth unemployment.
Among the key government officials present at the significant meeting were Speaker Richard Koon, Finance Minister Augustine Ngafuan, Agriculture Minister Alexander Nuetah, Information Minister Jerolimek Piah, Minister of State Without Portfolio Mamaka Bility, and Justice Minister Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh.
Public and domestic policy professional Jones N. Williams welcomed Dr. Adesina’s forthright observations, emphasizing their critical relevance in the context of rapid globalization and Liberia’s unique potential to emerge as a significant force in Africa’s success story.
Williams underscored that senior government officials, particularly those in key leadership roles, must prioritize the engineering of programs designed to foster innovation, strengthen social safety nets, create jobs, and promote comprehensive economic and social progress. He detailed that such programs should integrate key strategies including leveraging technology for enhanced efficiency, providing targeted skills training, and implementing policies that robustly support both economic growth and social well-being.
He further elaborated on essential components for success:
- Driving Innovation:Â Utilizing digital identification systems, mobile money, and e-wallets to enhance service delivery and transparency.
- Protecting Social Safety Nets:Â Ensuring targeted assistance, adequate and fiscally sustainable funding, and building resilience against economic shocks and crises.
- Creating Employment and Job Opportunities:Â Investing in skills development, promoting entrepreneurship, favorable labor market policies, and specific programs addressing youth employment.
- Promoting Economic Development and Social Progress:Â Investing in human capital (health, education, nutrition), reducing inequality, fostering community development, and ensuring inclusive growth where all members of society in Liberia, including women and youth, benefit.
Dr. Adesina’s stark warning and the subsequent expert endorsement underscore the urgent need for tangible action and accountability within the Liberian government as it strives to unlock the nation’s immense potential for transformation.
