GEORGE MANNEH WEAH, President of Liberia, emphasized that the international community must continue to emphasize the need for support to vulnerable societies and developing countries.  Sustainable recovery from the pandemic must be based on the principle of inclusiveness and solidarity and within the context of leaving no one behind. He also voiced his support for the upcoming fifth Conference on Least Developed Countries, to be held in Doha, Qatar in January 2022.

In response to the pandemic, his Government developed a post-COVID-19 economic recovery plan, he continued.  The initiative aimed at providing the basis for economic recovery through short-term actions and investments in key sectors, including agriculture and tourism.  With these measures, Liberia is expected to reach a 4 per cent gross domestic product growth in the coming year and be able to obtain a substantial increase in domestic revenue generation for the first time in more than a decade.  He also underscored his country’s commitment in climate reform, initiatives in agricultural promotion projects and efforts to prioritize investment in roads, energy and ports.

Reaffirming his country’s commitment in the ecosystem of tropical rainforest, coastal mangroves and interior peatlands, he further pointed out that Liberia has nearly seven million hectares of forest ‑ the last reserves in the region with some of the highest carbon stocks in the world.  It was imperative that Liberia’s forests be maintained in the future, he said, calling for meaningful partnerships with the developed world and the private sector.

Liberia’s 15-year civil war ended over two decades ago, he noted, adding that it was a national priority to agree on a process that would bring closure to the wounds of the victims.  This, in turn, would guarantee the sustenance of peace, stability, justice and national reconciliation.  To that end, the Government began consultations with its National Legislature after which there would be a wider engagement with the Liberian Judicial System and its strategic international partners and organizations.  “It is my hope that at the end of this consultative process, a national consensus will evolve that will determine the pathway to resolving this issue,” he said.