The President and Chairman of the Africa Development Bank Group (ADBG), Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, has told officials of the Liberian government that there should be no excuse for poor performance in the performance of their duties.
Speaking Tuesday, July 22, 2025 at a High-Level expanded Cabinet meeting and the launch of the Liberia Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank (YEIB) at the EJS Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, Dr. Adesina explained that there is a need for government officials to have a change of mindset about what it means to be a minister, stating that “ministers are not small Presidents.”
According to him, for a minister to succeed, he or she must act like a speed train, choose their destination (your end result), set the direction of travel, set their speed, and never stop until they arrive at the rightful destination. He revealed that the primary responsibilities of government officials are to help the President succeed by designing and implementing policies and programs in their respective portfolios to deliver measurable and impactful results.
He said national challenges are enormous and only those who can work and deliver results at scale should be appointed to work as ministers. He encouraged ministries to set very high targets, adding that if the target is too realistic, it means they are too comfortable and not doing enough.
Dr. Adesina narrated that the success of the government’s ARREST agenda requires more than one or a few departments or agencies achieving their targets. He urged officials to work together for delivery of impactful programs for Liberians, saying, “We deliver more when we work together, instead of each one standing in and defending their own soloed territories.”
According to him, Liberia’s challenges and opportunities are like Baobab trees; they require joining hands together to solve them and turn challenges into opportunities. Dr. Adesina revealed that there is a need for a clear plan for joint delivery across departments and agencies, urging them to use the Baobab principle.
“You cannot leave that to chance. If you do, in the end, it will not add up. I recommend that you consider putting in place an Inter-Agency Presidential Performance Awards program that will recognize and incentivize inter-agency collaboration. I do this at the African Development Bank. In fact, the Presidential award for the High5s for joint delivery will be presented to staff at the end of August,” he added.
