International Development Association (IDA) should aim at pulling Africa out of its current dependency syndrome. This is according to the President of the Republic of Liberia, George Manneh Weah, at the International Development Association (IDA) for Africa summit organized by the World Bank Group and the Government of Senegal.

“The plan should aim at pulling Africa out of the current dependency syndrome, together with you, our development partners, we should aspire for sustainable development and robust capacity-building.  Our economies should be diversified to promote genuine people-centered policies that are based on the principles of good governance, transparency, and equality,” the Liberian leader said

Weah has continuously been making a strong case for economic recovery for Liberia and other developing countries to the world’s economic powers amid the ripple effects of COVID-19, the war in Ukraine and other global adversities.

Speaking at the International Development Association (IDA) for Africa summit President Weah reminded participants that the Summit is being held in the wake of two years of unprecedented and brutal negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the current compounding ripple effects of the Russia-Ukraine war. 

 “Our challenge is to identify the appropriate policy nexus to deal with this erupting situation,” Weah said, adding: “Liberia has an economy that is dependent upon food and oil imports, and is currently faced with rising prices of commodities as a result of the Russia-Ukraine war,” said Weah.

 He pledged Liberia’s commitment to the ideas and programs inscribed in the Abidjan Declaration of the IDA for Africa 2021 Summit, and support to the implementation process between now and 2025. 

 “We are assured that it will succeed. And that is why we have come to this Summit to support its robust implementation,” Weah affirmed further, hailing the important works being done by the World Bank Group’s International Development Action in supporting our efforts to combat Ebola, COVID-19, and other pandemics that have afflicted our countries and negatively impacted African economies. 

 President Weah used the occasion to update the international community gathering at the summit of Liberia’s transformational policy during the replenishment period, stating that it will focus on health, education, agriculture, digital economy, youth and women empowerment, roads and ports, energy and gender. These sectors are cardinal to Liberia’s national development plan, the Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development.

 “On the economic front, the promotion of electronic payments and digitization of the Liberian economy, in collaboration with some of our key development partners, is an urgent and paramount imperative. Also, increasing credit to the private sector, and ensuring the stability of the financial system, are necessary initiatives that are well underway,” reiterated Weah

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