By: Frank P Martin
MONROVIA: President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has left Liberia for Rome, Italy. His visit signals a high-stakes diplomatic effort as Liberia seeks to expand its influence on global food security and development.
As keynote speaker at the World Food Forum, Boakai is expected to showcase Liberia’s strides in addressing hunger and sustainable agriculture, but critics argue that his international engagements often overshadow pressing domestic concerns.
Boakai’s address is likely to highlight Liberia’s contributions to global food security.
However, it remains unclear how these lofty ambitions align with the stark realities of the food crisis back home, where many rural Liberians continue to struggle with hunger and lack access to basic agricultural tools.
The president’s trip also comes at a time when Liberia is grappling with economic instability and food insecurity, leaving some citizens questioning the timing of the high-profile visit.
Beyond the forum, President Boakai is set to meet with global leaders and major international organizations like FAO, IFAD, and WFP. The question on many lips, however, is whether these meetings will translate into tangible benefits for Liberia or remain symbolic gestures that ultimately fail to address the nation’s needs.
The “Piano Mattei” plan, touted as a potential game-changer for Liberia’s infrastructure and agricultural development, has also garnered significant attention. However, skeptics worry that the benefits might disproportionately favor foreign investors, with local farmers and small-scale producers left on the periphery of development projects.
President Boakai’s diplomatic engagements will include meetings with Pope Francis and Italy’s Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni.
His supporters argue that these interactions offer an opportunity to strengthen Liberia’s global partnerships. Yet, back home, many believe the president should prioritize addressing Liberia’s internal challenges—namely, corruption, poverty, and unemployment.
With his administration facing increasing pressure to deliver on economic reforms, the success of this visit may well hinge on whether President Boakai can secure concrete agreements to spur development and food security initiatives that directly benefit the Liberian people.