Liberia’s Vice President Jeremiah Koung has publicly acknowledged that the government has failed to create jobs for Liberians nearly two years into its six-year mandate, warning that citizens are “tired of waiting” for meaningful economic relief.
Speaking on Monday at the commissioning of Liberia’s first semi-industrial fiberglass fishing vessel, SEEKO (The Sea King), at the Mesurado Pier on Bushrod Island, Koung admitted that job creation, capacity building, and human development remain major shortcomings of the administration.
He urged the government to “prioritize its priorities,” arguing that the fisheries sector offers the fastest path to jobs and economic growth.
Koung said the administration must urgently confront its failures, especially as time is running out for the government to deliver on its promises. “Our government’s weakness is job creation. This government was elected for six years; two years have gone by, and our people are tired of waiting,” he said.
He stressed that fisheries represent Liberia’s “low-hanging fruit” for job creation, food security, and private investment. With the right infrastructure and full private-sector engagement, Koung believes the sector could become a major engine of inclusive growth.
According to the Vice President, investment in modern fishing vessels could significantly expand production and contribute to economic recovery. He urged the Ministry of Agriculture to shift focus from rice, which he suggested has been slow to yield results, and redirect resources into fisheries.
Koung reaffirmed the government’s commitment to easing the burdens faced by Liberians, describing the commissioning of the SEEKO vessel as a symbol of national progress and the potential of Liberia’s marine resources.
The National Fisheries & Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), through Social Development Specialist Lovette Seldi Sie, said the launch of the vessel demonstrates ongoing collaboration between NaFAA and the World Bank under the Liberia Sustainable Management Fisheries Project (LSMFP). Sie said the goal is to leverage Liberia’s abandoned marine resources in a manner that is sustainable and inclusive.
