The Governance Commission and the Ministry of Planning and Economic Afairs, a little over three years ago (December 12, 2012),sponsored a National Vision Conference in Gbarnga Bong County, under the aegis of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, with the intention of bringing Liberians together to inclusively participate in discussions pertaining to Liberia’s future. The Conference marked a new beginning of the process of operationalization and implementation of Vision 2030.
Five hundred delegates represented a spectrum of interest groups and stakeholders of Liberia from all 15 Counties (156 administrative districts including the 73 political districts of Liberia) and Liberians within the Diaspora (Africa, Europe, and North America) at that Vision Conference organized by a 21 member Committee.
Unlike previous National Visions, that of 2030 captures the aspirations of the people as put forward by them at the Conference and noted in various consultations, is a manifestation of Liberians faith in the future of our country, and our determination, despite our numerous challenges, to achieve our expressed national belief– “one people, one nation, united for peace and sustainable development.”
The Vision’s 5- page document notes that the Liberian people, in the Gbarnga Vision Declaration, describes us and perceives our country as being an “economically prosperous people, a socially and demographically harmonious nation united in diversity, a democratic political system, an environmentally beautiful flourishing country, and a country culturally vibrant, and technically innovative.”
Vision 2030: Liberia’s Transformation Process
Though critiques may say otherwise or are hesitant as to the realization and implementation of Vision 2030, Finance and Development Planning Minister Amara Konneh is one of those championing the National Vision 2030, believing that it is the surest developmental framework formulated through painstaking consultations and assures of Liberia transforming into a middle income country status by 2030.
Minister Konneh was quick to add that transforming a post war country like Liberia, a country among the world’s poorest, is a formidable undertaking, but commended Liberians for taking this significant step. Minister Konneh spoke at the Governance Commission’s Policy Dialogue on “Vision 2030 and the 2017 Elections: Reaffirming commitment to a common future through Elections” held on January 19, 2017 at the Bella Casa Hotel in Sinkor. The program was graced by representatives of the National Legislature, and political parties, as well as prospective candidates in the 2017 elections.
It can be recalled that Minister Konneh was among the hundreds of Liberians that attended the 2012 National Vision Conference held in Gbarnga. At the Policy Dialogue, Minister Konneh spoke passionately about what he referred to as the Liberian aspiration-“One people, one nation, united for peace and sustainable development” – the National Vision Statement.
Vision 2030 Conference also adopted a complementary agenda for social transformation and a roadmap for national healing, peace building and reconciliation, the Agenda for Transformation (AfT), which also includes plans for Liberia’s economic transformation. Key questions shaping the Liberian agenda include “where do we come from as a country?” “Where are we today as a country?” “Where do we want to go as a people?” “How do we get there?”Vision 2030 addressed these questions, and it is important to note that the Vision, unlike previous Visions that were President – centered, secured the involvement and participation of Civil Society and ordinary Liberians which is believed to have limited cronyism in the country’s development framework.
“The integrity of the visioning exercise has also limited the embedding of cronyism in developing the country’s development framework, because we went to the people. They were not programmed; they were not paid agents; they did not belong to any political parties; they were the ordinary people in those 156 districts that helped us to attempt to answer these soul searching questions.
According to Minister Konneh, the scope, skill and style of the consultations gave democratic legitimacy to Vision 2030, and that the process encouraged increased voice, participation, accountability, openness and sincerity, (all of which are necessary for nation building)ended the design phase of the Vision exercise, and developed the overarching development strategy for Liberia which spans beyond the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s Administration.
The development agenda of Liberia considers human capacity building as the most important resource for this country, and at the center of both the software and hardware of our national development plan. The Minister observed that Liberia was at a crossroad. He said though government has made small, incremental progress on the hardware “what good is the hardware, if it doesn’t benefit the people?”
2017 Elections and Post-Conflict Violence
Minister Konneh spoke on a number of issues surrounding the 2017 national elections in Liberia and the formation of political parties. Minister Konneh warned that the use of tribalism and ethnicity to win votes in national elections is a cause for post-election violence. Citing examples from Kenya and Somalia, Minister Konneh emphasized that “tribalism” or the use of ethnic identity by politicians (that have no manifestos) to promote narrow tribal or personal interests has the propensity to fuel post-election conflict. He therefore urged Liberians to guide against what he referred to as “clan” or “tribal” politics come 2017.
Post-election conflicts in a number of African countries are examples of the dangers associated with tribal/clan politics and identity, as well as ethnic competition, and underscore the importance of building nations around ideas.
“We’re the same people! Vision 2030: “One people, One Nation, United for Peace and Sustainable Development…..Political leaders often exploit these tribal loyalties to promote their personal interests. So tribes are not built on democratic ideas; they thrive on zero-sum competition.
Go back to our own history: ……..all the wars we had before. The civil conflict we had here; this just ended civil war; we saw how tribal alliances were masquerading under the national interest, which prolonged our conflict after genuine effort to end it early. Let’s not forget that.”
Minister Konneh recommended the building of strong democratic institutions in Liberia, and called on all three branches of government, and local county leaders including all chiefs to rally around the National Elections Commission (NEC) to protect Liberia’s fragile democracy. He however cautions NEC to be mindful of how it spends funds intended for the 2017 elections.
He recommends that as we push a decentralization agenda, funds should also be invested in educating general town chiefs and other local community leaders about the decentralization process. He commended the Governance Commission for organizing the Dialogue, particularly one that focuses on our long term aspiration - the National Vision, linking it to the 2017 elections.