Monrovia, Liberia: Liberian President George Manneh Weah has called on the Director General of the Sustainable Development Goals Center for Africa (SDGC/A) to ensure that Liberia improves on its development performance.
According to the Liberian leader, “Liberia currently lies in the red-zone, but this administration is determined to improve the standing of Liberia by implementing development programs set out in the SDGs.” President Weah made the call August 17, 2018 at his Foreign Affairs office when he played host to Dr. Belay Begashaw, Director General of the SDGC/A,who is in the country to conclude arrangements for the establishment of the Center in Liberia.
The Liberian leader immediately moved to set date for the launch of the Center, which will be done concomitantly with the launch of SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) that are already aligned with the government’s Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD). Expressing his gratitude and excitement over the establishment of the Center in Liberia, President Weah said that “Liberia being the host country of the SDGC/A in the sub-region is a statement of affirmation from the international community.” President Weah further indicated that his administration remains committed to connecting the entire country through paved roads; something he said will boost the huge prospect of agriculture development across the country.
He also welcomed news that the Board of the SDGC/A was poised to make Liberia a hub of agriculture development across Africa, in furtherance of the fact that Liberia has the climatic and soil profile to feed itself and other countries. Also making remarks, Dr. Begashaw, thanked the Liberian leader for fulfilling the Host Country Agreement by providing an office space, renovation of the office, provision of two SUVs for the operations of the Center as well as payment of the annual amount for Host Country. Dr. Begashaw noted that the SDGs are going to be fully domesticated in Liberia through establishment of the Center in the country, and that the SDGC/A will enable African countries achieve sustainable growth and development. He emphasized that paramount on the agenda of the SDGs is the reduction of youth unemployment.
The SDGC/A Director general indicated that the makeup of the Board of the SDGC/A includes high profile personalities among which are President Paul Kagame of the Republic of Rwanda and Nigerian Billionaire Aliko Dangote. He said the Center will also focus on youth development through implementation of rigorous Technical Vocation Education Training (TVET) programs. Dr. Begashaw noted that it is an understanding amongst Board members to focus on serious investment activities in Liberia as Host Country.
Responding to President Weah’s concern as to whether the SDGs experts will be in or out of Liberia, Dr. Begashaw assured the President that the experts will be resident in the country. He underscored that Liberia’s case will be discussed during the Board meeting at the United Nations General Assembly (UN-GA) in September in New York.
