Finance Minister Underscores Human Capital Development in the Country’s Development Process

Minister Tweah making remarks at the official launch of the process leading to the formulation of the Ministry’s Strategic Plan for 2019.

Monrovia, Liberia - The Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Hon. Samuel D. Tweah Jr., says Human Capital Development is a major priority under the Pro Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development. He stressed that this will be reflected in the MFDP’s new strategic plan.

Minister Tweah spoke at a ceremony which marked the official launch of the process leading to the formulation of the Ministry’s Strategic Plan for 2019 to 2023 on Tuesday, March 26, 2019.

Minister Tweah expressed delight with the conceptual framework and target objectives of the plan.

He said that under the new MFDP’s Strategic Plan for 2019-2023, it was his hope that the Ministry can work with the entire government and various development partners to find a way that they can determine whether they’re delivering in meeting different benchmarks.

He explained further that a cardinal aspiration of the new Strategic Plan is to turn the Ministry into the most efficient and effective service delivery with the aim of ending delays in processes at the Ministry.

“Human capital development is a major priority under the PAPD, including quality education and health. The World Bank has committed to providing additional financing in the amount of 50 million United States dollars to address challenges in the education sector,” Hon. Tweah said.

Speaking further, Minister Tweah indicated that under the PAPD, government is focusing on improving the road infrastructure in the country, because without roads, Liberia’s growth outlook will continue to remain a challenge. Therefore, he disclosed, investment in road infrastructures is also vital under the PAPD.

Additionally, he named electricity and ports as other priorities well articulated in the PAPD which the Ministry’s Strategic Plan for 2019 to 2023 will seek to address.

The Finance Minister pointed out that discussions are ongoing with investors to expand the capacity of the LEC where over 2,000 transformers and transmitters will be brought into the country, instead of the targeted 300 pieces.

Electricity infrastructure, he went on to say, is a challenge for the country and a priority under the PAPD. He explained that the CLSG lines will be fully operational by 2020 and government will be able to import and to export power.

He expressed optimism that the mode of delivery will have to be effective and efficient in the midst of enormous challenges government is faced with. He added that it was important to look at what entities were doing from a logically point and to have it tied to the PAPD. Doing, so he revealed will enable government to look at what problem it can solve, and to be able to solve the critical ones subject to resource limitation.

The gathering included development partners and representatives of Ministries and Agencies of government, as well as, officials and technicians of the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning.