Liberians don’t have to reinvent the wheel; they just need to model the process. However, to overcome the hurdles, Liberians will need to set the stage for accountability from top to bottom and it all starts with the judiciary system. The legal system must be the cornerstone in the process to make sure everyone abides by the laws.  Investors as well as citizens’ adherence to the justice system will show that no one is above the law as is evident in the great United States.

This new vision for Liberia must include the participation of qualified Liberians who will represent their various constituencies to solicit development initiatives. The way to go about it is to allow each county to research an area from which they would yield best results in terms of productivity and revenue generation. For example, if the soil in Grand Bassa County is fertile in growing potatoes, the county should focus more resources on growing only potatoes for local consumption, value-added production and export.  After the research, a representative can attend tradeshows to observe and encourage investors into Liberia on behalf of their respective county. But again, this can be done when Liberians are ingenuous to themselves and are willing to put their country first.

This is not about a particular person doing the work; it is about everyone’s involvement that will make it work for us all. You may be a farmer, but consider yourself the best farmer there is by doing the right thing for your country. Liberians can do with what they already possess to move the country forward. They are hard working, smart and capable of completing a task if they put aside their egos and self-indulgence.

Let’s take for example the story in the book of Numbers 11:16:17, when the Lord said to Moses, “Summon before me seventy of the leaders of Israel; bring them to the Tabernacle, to stand there with you. I will come down and talk with you there, and I will take of the Spirit which is on you and will put it upon them also; they shall bear the burden of the people along with you, so that you will not have the task alone.” This is exactly what the president has done putting the responsibility of Liberia into the hands of Liberians to help build the future for generations unborn. It is incumbent upon us as Liberians to step up to the challenge to rebuild our country and be the once proud people of good-nature that every country talked about during their visits in our land.

If I may add my voice to the many suggestions, I will first begin with a blueprint of how business should be done in the Liberia.

• President Sirleaf should conduct a general meeting with all government officials, and institute a stern measure on misconduct and corruption - that any official found in such act will be dismissed and if found guilty he or she makes restitution or serve prison term. And she must follow through with this mandate, even with her closest personnel if they are found to be involved.
• Ports of entry and airport remodeled to accommodate a large fleet of planes and ships. These have already commenced, both at RIA and the Freeport of Monrovia, as well as improvements to the Port of Buchanan and Greenville. Let’s keep it up!
• Encourage the press to expose any official found in bribery.
• Create incentives for youth to continuously develop themselves into responsible, productive citizens, be it competitive, merit-based scholarships or allowances toward particular fields of study.
• No contract agreement should last longer than twenty years.
• Train military to undertake infrastructural and development projects.
• Build libraries throughout the country.
• Create recreation activities all seasons round to keep youth involved and constructively engaged.
• Establish a teachers’ conference in government’s institutions to assess needs for improvement.
• Improve adults’ education.
• Re-establish the Boys Town Institute.
• Clamp down harder on police officers getting intoxicated on official duty.

The greatness of any country is the ability to ensure that the rule of law discriminates against no man, and that all are protected equally under the law.