MONROVIA, Liberia — Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung, representing President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, on Friday, December 12, delivered a strong call to action to Liberians in the diaspora, urging them to return home, pool resources, and invest collectively in Liberia’s private sector as a pathway to national transformation.
Speaking at a welcoming ceremony for returning Liberians—most of whom traveled from the United States for the 2025 Diaspora Annual Return—the Vice President emphasized that Liberia’s future development depends heavily on diaspora engagement, private investment, and strategic collaboration among Liberians themselves.
“I grew up here. I know the slum, and I know opportunity,” Vice President Koung said. “There is money in this country, especially in the private sector. If you take advantage of the opportunities here, you may not even want a government job.”
He contrasted the scrutiny faced by public officials with the freedom of private enterprise, encouraging qualified Liberians abroad to consider entrepreneurship as a more flexible and profitable option. According to him, Liberia’s unique land ownership laws—restricting land ownership to citizens of Negro descent—offer Liberians a strategic advantage that should be fully utilized before future legal reforms alter the landscape.
Call for Collective Investment
A central theme of the Vice President’s address was collective investment. He urged diaspora Liberians to move away from fragmented individual efforts and instead pool resources for large-scale projects in tourism, housing, health, and manufacturing.
“If 200,000 Liberians in the diaspora contribute just US$100 each, that is US$20 million,” he said. “With that, you can approach banks, leverage financing, and build hotels, housing estates, diagnostic centers, or even a new city.”
Vice President Koung pointed to opportunities along the Robertsfield Highway, and around Lake Piso in Grand Cape Mount County as examples of underutilized assets with high tourism potential. He assured attendees that the Boakai administration stands ready to support legitimate diaspora investments and help secure land and regulatory approvals.
Private Sector, Not Just Big Projects
Beyond large investments, the Vice President encouraged Liberians to explore smaller but high-demand ventures often dominated by foreign traders, including food seasoning distribution, catering services, and basic consumer goods.
“Even what we call ‘small things’ make big money,” he said, explaining that everyday products consumed by nearly every Liberian household present profitable entry points for local investors.
He also stressed the importance of formal structures—articles of incorporation, bank oversight, and legal safeguards—to protect diaspora investments and prevent family disputes and mismanagement.
Diaspora Engagement as National Policy
Earlier in the program, Minister of State for Presidential Affairs Samuel A. Stevquoah welcomed participants on behalf of President Boakai, praising the diaspora’s historic role in advocating for peace during Liberia’s civil war and in sustaining the economy through remittances. He reaffirmed government commitment to accountability and continuous diaspora engagement.
Dr. Clarice Ford-Kulah, Chair of the 2025 Diaspora Annual Return, outlined a packed schedule of activities, including an Investment Summit, Peace and Reconciliation Dialogue, Heritage Awards Night, Health Investment Forum, and humanitarian outreach to orphanages in Monrovia and neighboring counties. She emphasized the theme “Our Liberia, One People.”
Investment and Health Forums Highlighted
Dan Maxwell Jr., Director for Investment Promotion at the National Investment Commission, briefed attendees on the Diaspora Investment Summit scheduled for December 17, describing it as a listening platform where government would hear directly from diaspora investors about challenges and successes.
Jackie McKay, speaking on the Health Investment Forum set for December 22, said the event responds directly to diaspora demand for structured engagement in Liberia’s health sector. She noted that the forum—organized with the Ministry of Health, IOM, and other partners—will focus on building a resilient healthcare system through conferences, health fairs, and facility assessments.
A Personal Appeal
In closing, Vice President Koung delivered a deeply personal appeal, urging Liberians abroad not to romanticize life overseas while overlooking opportunities at home.
“America is a good place to visit,” he said. “But if you come home, talk to the right people, and make the right investments, you may not want to go back.” The ceremony concluded with traditional prayers, cultural presentations, symbolic welcome gestures, and the distribution of Liberian flags to diaspora participants—formally marking their return home as partners in Liberia’s development journey.
