Minister of Planning and Economic Affairs Amara Konneh of Liberia

Amara Konneh has informed legislators at his confirmation hearings that he will focus on poverty reduction.

Responding to questions from senators on the challenges of becoming a minister of such vital arm of government, Konneh said that his several years of experience suffices to enable him carry out effective planning and to advance important economic policies for the development of Liberia.

Konneh said that upon his confirmation, the Liberian people are to expect a more robust and proactive Planning Ministry which will work to address the poverty situation in the Liberian society.

Disclosing this at a news conference which brought together an array of senior government officials at the Ministry of Planning and Economic Affairs, Planning Minister Amara Konneh said over the years, Liberia’s performance has improved significantly on many of the MCC eligibility indicators.

Konneh said the Millennium Challenge Account is a new US Government’s foreign assistance program open only to an exclusive club of reform-minded nations and provides grants to poor countries that demonstrate their commitment to good governance, among others.

In an interview, Planning Minister Amara Konneh said the Government of Liberia will target the Threshold programme toward improving transparency, fighting corruption and strengthening the country’s justice system.

The Ministry of Planning is prepared to do that, Minister Konneh has said.