The Images Magazine Interview With

Cover Story Question: who knew your past situation reminds Liberia has progressively become a Mr. Minister, Liberia has made con- you that you have made significant prog- very open society. That openness is sub- siderable progress since the end of its civil ress. On the whole, it is not just peace we stantiated by the sheer number of news- war in 2003. Aware that we recently cel- celebrate; we celebrate progress on many papers, mainstream and community ra- ebrated ten years of peace, what do you fronts – the consolidation of the culture dio stations, phone-in radio discussions think about the progress so far? of democracy being most prominent. where people from all walks of life can That within this 10-year period, we have call and vent their spleens on critical na- Answer: had two successive democratic elections, tional issues. When one compares what Evidently, Liberia has made signifi- and we have an independent Legislature we have today with what existed in the cant progress. I underline the word Libe- whose members originate from diverse ’70s, there is certainly much to celebrate. ria because the Government, the people, political parties, including a significant Back then, you had virtually one inde- and our partners have all contributed to number of independent candidates, pendent radio station, ELWA, the New this progress. means a lot for our country. We also have Liberia Newspaper and probably a few Collectively, we have made prog- three independent branches of Govern- others. Many independent newspapers, ress. The fact that we have celebrated ment that complement and countervail including the Daily Observer and oth- 10 consecutive years of peace, and the each other regularly. There is no auto- ers that some of you are veterans of, came Liberian child that was born within this maticity between presidential proposals on the stage in the ’80s. You know all too 10-year period doesn’t have the experi- and legislative approval or concurrence. well how the space was suffocated in the ence of war, is significant. War is a very It tells you the extent to which Liberia’s ’80s and ’90s, but we now have an envi- distant concept now. Sometimes when democracy has come, and also the degree ronment that is conducive for freedom you achieve something significant, you of openness that exists. We also have an of speech and of the press; we have the forget its significance, until somebody independent judiciary. Freedom of Information Law; an Ex- 6 | IMAGES Magazine April - May 2014 Cover Story Liberia On The Right Trajectory For Peace And Prosperity -Foreign Minister Ngafuan Speaks A Transcript of Sando Moore’s In- terview with H.E. Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, Minister of Foreign Af- fairs of the Republic of Liberia ecutive Order to protect whistleblowers; worthy of celebration in our recent his- dall Campus of the University of Libe- and Liberia is a signatory to the Table tory. ria makes some of us former students of Mountain Declaration, among others. On the infrastructural front, any- the University want to reverse the hands We have instituted so much to protect one can remember how roads in Mon- of the clock and become students once this democracy, which gives cause for cel- rovia were infested with potholes. For again just to have the chance to learn in ebration. example, beginning from the Ministry such facilities. Sando, one more thing: I Also, we have come a long way in of Foreign Affairs, near the Main Cam- spent a decade pursuing a Bachelor’s de- transforming and positioning this coun- pus of the University of Liberia to 12th gree at the University of Liberia not be- try on the path of economic growth and Street, we know how long it took to drive cause I ever failed a course, but the many development. Imagine a country that was to very short destinations across this city episodes of war and lack of government broken. I can remember when I came and other parts of the country. In fact, support was such that if we had one se- to Government, then as the Budget Di- the situation was so bad that some peo- mester a year, we were very lucky. Today, rector, the country’s budget was around ple jokingly said that our many pothole- because of peace and an almost certain US$80 million for a country with a debt infested roads were one of the main cul- stream of Government support, we have burden of nearly US$5 billion at the prits in the miscarriages of women. Now, been witnessing two Commencements time. All the economic indicators were see the smoothness of that road. You can every year at the UL. Primacy is also be- very negative, sadly negative. Everything drive from here (Monrovia) to Buchanan ing placed on the health and well-being was going south. To transform that real- in so short a time. Still in the realm of in- of the Liberian people. The Jackson F. ity was a herculean task. And to have the frastructure, it is important to point out Doe Memorial Hospital in Tappita, and almost US$5 billion debt cancelled, pro- that more than 220 schools have been the Telewoyan Hospital in Voinjama, viding us the space to take up new loans built across the country since 2006. The among other healthcare delivery centers for development, is also an achievement state- of-the-art newly constructed Fen- across the country, have been refurbished IMAGES Magazine | April - May 2014 | 7 Cover Story and are very active. of Foreign Affairs. What have been the me the opportunity and wanted me not Immediately following the end of the challenges? to make them shame as you did not make conflict, most of the people were clus- Ellen Johnson Sirleaf shame. That is, I tered in displaced camps, depending on Answer: stood in the shadow of your performance relief food. They have returned to their I have faced many challenges – per- and integrity to land an opportunity, and farms and are doing a whole lot. It is vital sonal, professional, etc. Particularly your citation inspired confidence in my to note that the World Food Programme in the realm of government, one chal- ability to deliver.” (WFP) is now buying food from Libe- lenge I have faced has been the doubt Coming back to the issue of challeng- rian farmers. and cynicism that have attended my ap- es, being at the helm of decision making Also, the image of our country has pointments. In retrospect, when I was of an economy where the resource enve- been restored internationally. From be- appointed Budget Director, I was just lope is far outstripped by the legitimate ing regarded as a pariah state – a country age 35 knocking on 36, which made me expenditure demands of spending enti- that was deemed more than a decade ago the youngest in the Cabinet of President ties and the Liberian people, is one chal- as one of the 10 worst places to live and Sirleaf. The average age of members of lenge that is difficult and agonizing. I re- do business on earth – today our country the Cabinet at the time was 50, and to member when we were crafting our first is regarded as a respectable partner in the have been given the opportunity to man- budget in 2006; the estimated revenue comity of nations; our President is a No- age the complex instrument called the projection was a little above US$100 bel Laureate, and she hobnobs with the budget, many thought that I was not million, whilst requests from the min- movers and shakers of the world; the Li- experienced for the job. Some wondered istries and agencies were above US$500 berian flag is fluttering high and proudly whether a young man like me could do million. How do we rationally and ob- at the United Nations, at the African it. Many people did not want to consider jectively trim the legitimate ambitions Union, at ECOWAS, and everywhere the professional preparations that I had of spending entities to size, whilst ensur- across the globe. Today, unlike sometime undergone. They were merely zeroing in ing that strategic national objectives are during our difficult past, to show the -Li on my age. But, thanks to Madam Sirleaf, met? I remember I famously called this berian passport brings you pride and not she does not look at age but substance; challenge “prioritizing the priorities.” suspicion and shame. and for me, being doubted at each of I could go on delineating successes, these positions has been one of the rea- as progress can be cited in many other sons why I have achieved whatever suc- areas. The problem now is, when people cess people cite today. I also saw myself are used to success, they want more suc- as an ambassador for the young people. cess. It is what I call “the paradox of ex- At the time many young people were not cellence.” When an instructor get used in the Cabinet, and I felt that my perfor- to your scoring A’s, sometimes he or she mance would open doors for others to does not take kindly to your scoring B come in. I did not want anyone to cite or C, even when most other members of my under-performance as the reason why the class are scoring F’s and D’s. The Li- they could not give any young person an berian people are the instructors and the opportunity. government is the student. The progress I can tell you that one of my proudest that has been achieved thus far has only moments came when I was walking down whetted and increased our people’s ap- Broad Street one Saturday afternoon, petite for more progress.

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