Tony Blair Praises Weah’s Pro-Poor Agenda

Former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair has hailed President George Weah for ensuring the completion of the Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD) and promised to be of help in the implementation of the plan.

He said by producing the PAPD paper, the government has put itself and its partners in the position to understand the challenges facing Liberia and how they can be solved to the benefit of its citizens.

The former British Prime Minister made the remarks on Thursday, when he paid President Weah a courtesy visit at his Foreign Affairs office.

The former British leader, who runs the Institution for Global Change (TBIGC), was in the country to catch up with President Weah after his government launched its flagship development plan, the Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD).

In remarks, President Weah used the meeting to emphasize government’s political and moral will and commitment to addressing the critical needs of Liberians towards sustaining national peace, stability and harmony.

He said amid high expectations among Liberians and enormous challenges facing the government, he was upbeat about better days in the coming years.

President Weah and Mr. Blair discussed ways and opportunities that could be utilized towards funding and completing top development priorities of government.

The Tony Blair Institute for Global Change works to “make globalization work for the many, not the few, helping countries, their people and their governments address some of the most difficult challenges in the world today.”

It embeds skilled advisors into different governments in order to support their leaders properly manage and achieve the changes their people desire when there are limited resources available.

Mr. Blair was accompanied to the meeting with President Weah by the organization’s West Africa Regional Director, Kate Dooley, and the Liberia Country Head Nisha Makan.

This is the second time Mr. Blair has held talks with President Weah since he assumed office nearly eleven months ago.

Alphonso Toweh

Has been in the profession for over twenty years. He has worked for many international media outlets  including: West Africa Magazine, Africa Week Magazine, African Observer and  did occasional reporting for CNN, BBC World Service, Sunday Times, NPR, Radio Deutchewells, Radio Netherlands. He is the current correspondent for Reuters 
 He holds first  MA with honors in International  Relations and a  candidate for second master in International Peace studies and Conflict  Resolution from the University of Liberia.