For the second year in a row, Liberian officials gathered in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area to engage the nation’s diaspora on how they can help rebuild their homeland. The three‑day Liberia Diaspora Annual Conference was held Sep. 25‑27 at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center Hotel in Alexandria, Virginia.
Conference theme and goals
Organizers framed the event around the theme “From Dialogue to Delivery: Diaspora Capital, Innovation and the Next Liberia.” Attendees explored concrete ways to direct diaspora resources toward health care, agriculture, art, technology, education and infrastructure projects.
Entrepreneurial perspective
George Gablah Brownell Jr., a U.S.‑born Liberian who spent five years living and running a farm and rental properties in Liberia, served on the planning committee. Brownell warned that bureaucratic hurdles—such as an annual business registration fee and delayed processing by officials seeking bribes—can discourage investment. He urged the government to create a more predictable environment for returning entrepreneurs.
President Boakai’s address
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr., in office since 2024, used his remarks to reaffirm his ARREST agenda (Agriculture, Roads, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation, Tourism). He highlighted recent steps: a 40 % voluntary salary cut, suspension of over 450 officials for alleged corruption, audits of the Central Bank, and a new task force to combat a growing drug crisis.
Boakai also emphasized efforts to reduce reliance on imported rice, expand the electricity grid, and improve road networks. He called for a “credible system” that lets diaspora members contribute more effectively, stressing that investment must be practical, predictable and worthwhile.
Youth and diaspora engagement
Several young leaders underscored the importance of mentorship and skill‑matching. United Nations resident coordinator Christine N. Umutoni urged the diaspora to partner with Liberian youth rather than merely act as beneficiaries. Rolyn M. Clarke, a family nurse practitioner and founder of Heritage X Hustle, described a forthcoming registry to help the government identify diaspora expertise.
Clarke noted that while policy differences between the United States and Liberia exist, “where we can find alignment is we can say, ‘Hey, there’s a group of young professionals that you can mobilize.’”
Looking ahead
The conference concluded with a presidential town hall at the Harvest InterContinental Church in Olney, Maryland, where Boakai answered questions from hundreds of Liberians. Participants left with a renewed sense that coordinated diaspora investment, coupled with transparent governance, can drive tangible progress for Liberia’s next generation.
Original reporting: The Washington Informer — read the source article.
