STATEMENT BY FOREIGN MINISTER HIS EXECELLENCY AUGUSTINE KPEHE NGAFUAN AT THE SIGNING CEREMONY FOR THE MINISTERIAL COMPLEX ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2012
Photo Credit: Public Affairs
HE Mr Zhao Jianhua, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of The People’s Republic of China to the Republic of Liberia,
Ambassadors and Members of the Government of Liberia
Cabinet Colleagues, other Officials of Government
Chief Zanzan Karwa Chairman National Traditional Council of Elders, Chiefs and Zoes
Members of the Fourth Estate
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen
In 2006 when President Ellen Johnson democratically ascended to the Presidency of the Republic of Liberia, her Government inherited a legacy of problems – a broken, dilapidated or non-existent infrastructure, a balance sheet decorated more in red than in blue as a result of a suffocating debt overhang, a country frantically struggling to reduce its huge democracy deficit, etc. Today, after nearly seven years of visionary leadership of our illustrious President H.E. Ellen Johnson SIrleaf, it will be disingenuous to say that all the problems have been solved and that we are now experiencing Nirvana. However, if we took stock of where we were nearly seven years ago and where we are today, it will be unfair and also disingenuous if we fail to accept the incontrovertible reality that indeed much has been achieved thus far amidst a cocktail of challenges. From a democracy deficit, we can openly and proudly say that we now have a democracy surplus as evidenced by three independent branches of government that countervail one another, the existence of a free press, a vibrant civil society, a multiplicity of political parties, free, fair and transparent elections. From a huge debt overhang, we today are virtually debt free and can now borrow to reduce our infrastructure deficits.
It is evident that one of the legacy problems inherited by the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf led Government was the huge sum of money spent annually by Government on rent for buildings to house government ministries and agencies. Government is still grappling with this problem up to today but some significant strides have been made over the past few years to reverse what is clearly an anomalous and, to some extent, a shameful reality.
The Ministry of Planning was relocated from the Jean Travis Building on Randall Street to a new facility on Capitol Hill; the Ministry of Internal Affairs relocated from a ramshackle facility in Mamba Point to a decent structure on Capitol Hill, the Ministry of Youth and Sports from another run-down facility on New Port street to the SKD Sports Complex thanks to the Government and people of China for bankrolling the renovation of the Complex; the Ministry of Defense relocated from Benson Street to the BTC; the Liberia Institute for Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS) from Tubman Boulevard to Capitol Hill; the National Elections Commission from 17th Street to 9th Street and the list goes on and on.
These successes notwithstanding, we still face the uncomfortable reality of having important Government Ministries and Agencies still being housed in rented buildings – the Ministries of Education, Justice, and Transport; the National Investment Commission; the Liberia Maritime Authority and a host of others are cases in point.
It is against this backdrop that today represents a great day in the history of this country, as Providence has bestowed upon us the exhilarating privilege of signing an Agreement that represents a giant step in the consolidation of the legacy of our illustrious President, H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. By constructing a multi-million dollar ministerial complex at a cost of approximately 60 million US Dollars, the second largest structure built by China in Africa next to the African Union New Headquarters in Addis Ababa, President Sirleaf and her Government will be finally closing the chapter on the inconvenience of being a tenant and opening a new chapter on the respectability and cost-saving of being a landlord.
Since the reestablishment of relations between our two Governments in 2003, the People’s Republic of China has been a steadfast and reliable partner in the development of Liberia, from the war torn country with a severe capacity and infrastructure deficit of those days to the country fighting to make the most out of limited resources that you see today.
In fact, the assistance of The People’s Republic of China in the development of post-war Liberia began at the very beginning, with Chna’s assistance in restoring peace and security through support, within the context of the UN Security Council, for the deployment of the UN Peace-keeping mission in Liberia in 2003. China contributed its own contingent to this effort, assisting in road-construction and provision of health care and therefore helping to forge the peace necessary for the country to begin its path to development after 14 years of bloody civil war.
In the strengthening of our diplomatic ties since then, Liberia has witnessed a dramatic increase in Chinese investment in Liberia, covering both the private sector and the public sector. This investment ranges from the 2009 signing of a USD 2.6 billion Concession Agreement (the highest ever in Liberia) for the mining of iron ore, to investment in hotels, agriculture and the construction of roads and bridges. China constructed the Jackson Fiah Doe Memorial Hospital, the second largest health facility in Liberia that is offering affordable health care to Liberians in rural areas, and constructed the modern Fendall Campus for the University of Liberia; China built high schools, established an agriculture demonstration centre and provided more than 200 under- and post-graduate scholarships. These monumental efforts towards the development of our country, amongst others, clearly show the strength of the Liberia-China relations, and the dedication of the People’s Republic of China to the growth and prosperity of this nation of ours.
Through the construction of the Ministerial Complex from the generous contribution of the People’s Republic of China, the Government of Liberia will be able to operate more smoothly, eliminate the inefficiencies of having the majority of Ministries spread out and distant from each other, and develop their capacity to deliver on the all-important development goals of Liberia. It will be a proud day for Liberia when the Ministries can all be housed in new, functional buildings.
he future looks bright for Liberia-China relations, not least because of the great commitment China has made through the Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) to increase access to concessional loans and grants to African countries over the next 3 years. By expanding the availability of loans for development purposes to 20 billion USD for all of Africa, and by increasing the amount of grants, technical assistance and scholarships available for African countries, China has ensured a place as one of the most important strategic partners to Africa as a whole, and Liberia in particular.
In order to leverage more Chinese Government assistance under the FOCAC framework, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf recently established an Inter-governmental Task Force on China comprising the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, the National Investment Commission (NIC), and the Program Delivery Unit within the President’s Office. The Task Force has begun work and will be interacting with line ministries and agencies in order to better prepare Liberia’s case for more Chinese assistance under the various planks of the FOCAC.
Mr. Ambassador, as we sign this Agreement today, please rest assured that the Government will do its part to fulfil all the requirements under this Agreement to include the provision of adequate land to build the Complex. We therefore call on every Liberian citizen and foreign resident to cooperate as we take a giant step to develop our beloved country.
Mr. Ambassador, in conclusion, I would like to extend, on behalf of H. E. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and the Government and people of Liberia, our deepest and eternal gratitude to President Hu Jintao and the Government and people of the People’s Republic of China for this great contribution to the development Liberia. In 2006 President Sirleaf inherited a legacy of problems. This Ministerial Complex, when built, will make her to bequeath a legacy of solutions that the future generation will forever remember. LONG LIVE LIBERIA-CHINA RELATIONS.
Thank you.