(Kakata – October 26, 2008): A retreat of the Liberian cabinet opened Friday in Kakata, Margibi County, with a call by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for accelerated implementation of development projects.

President Sirleaf noted that three years was enough for the learning process and warned ministers to shape up implementation of development programs or shape out of government.

An Executive Mansion release says the president acknowledged that enough Liberians are yet to feel the impact of development programs and wants the process accelerated.

She called on the Ministers to get out to the Counties during this dry season to show some results.

The Liberian leader described the next three years as the real phase of her administration and called on all presenters to be frank in their reports speaking out about challenges to find a way forward.

The cabinet retreat is meant to take stock of the performances of government ministries and public corporations and find a way to accelerate the implementation of the Poverty reduction Strategy. 

On Friday, heads of Public corporations including the National Port Authority, the Liberia Electricity Corporation, Liberia Water & Sewer Corporation and National Housing Authority made presentations on their work and challenges.

Saturday’s session is focused on the Poverty reduction Strategy otherwise known as “Lift Liberia”.

Heads of the implementation of the four pillars will make reports on the level of work that has been done. They include pillar heads on Economic Revitalization, Infrastructure, Governance and the Rule of Law and Peace and Security.

Earlier a song aiming at sending out the message of the PRS to all sectors was presented by Post and telecommunications minister Jeremiah Sulunteh. 

The retreat ends on Sunday following plenary sessions focusing on the energy sector and the maritime program of Liberia.

The three-day cabinet retreat is being attended by all cabinet ministers, their deputies and assistants as well as Directors of public corporations and other autonomous agencies of government.

Liberia’s development partners and members of the diplomatic corps are observing the deliberations in Kakata.

Source: Executive Mansion

Partial view of the cabinet session in Kakata

President Sirleaf and Vice President Boikai at the cabinet retreat in Kakata
All photos by Adama Thompson of the EM Press