Monrovia, Liberia – August 31, 2026 – In a compelling assertion that challenges conventional development paradigms, Dr. Emmanuel Urey Yarkpawolo, Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has declared that good governance stands as Liberia’s most potent national resource, surpassing even its abundant natural wealth in its capacity to foster sustainable development and broad-based prosperity.
In a reflective commentary shared on his official Facebook page, Dr. Yarkpawolo drew a stark contrast between Liberia’s resource-rich landscape and the economic ascent of Singapore, a nation that has achieved high-income status with comparatively few commercially significant natural resources. He posited that the fundamental difference lies in the quality of governance.
Dr. Yarkpawolo articulated that good governance, defined by hallmarks such as honest leadership, robust and independent institutions, unwavering respect for the rule of law, prudent management of public finances, strategic long-term planning, and rigorous accountability, possesses the unique ability to generate wealth that endures across generations. Unlike finite natural assets, he emphasized, good governance is not depleted through use; rather, it is strengthened and amplified with consistent application.
"Unlike gold, timber or iron ore, good governance is not exhausted when it is used," Yarkpawolo wrote, underscoring its regenerative and self-reinforcing nature. "Effective governance becomes stronger through consistent practice."
The EPA Executive Director pointed to Singapore’s remarkable transformation as irrefutable evidence of how strong institutions and disciplined governance can serve as powerful catalysts for development, even in the absence of natural resource endowments. Following its independence in 1965, Singapore strategically prioritized the cultivation of human and institutional capacity. This included developing a highly professional civil service, investing in quality education, building essential public infrastructure, and establishing formidable anti-corruption mechanisms.
Singapore’s success story, according to Yarkpawolo, is also rooted in its unwavering commitment to long-term national planning. Development priorities were meticulously aligned with budgetary allocations, institutional frameworks, and measurable performance targets, ensuring a coherent and effective approach to nation-building.
Citing figures from the World Bank, Yarkpawolo highlighted Singapore’s impressive economic trajectory. The nation’s economy experienced an average annual growth rate of approximately 7 percent after independence, accelerating to a remarkable 9.2 percent during its initial 25 years. By 2025, Singapore’s GDP per capita had soared to an estimated US$98,814, a testament to its nearly six-decade journey of transformation driven by effective governance.
In stark juxtaposition, Yarkpawolo noted Liberia's paradox: a nation blessed with extensive natural resources, including iron ore, gold, diamonds, timber, rubber, fertile agricultural land, abundant fisheries, and vast forests, yet struggling to translate this wealth into widespread national prosperity. He referenced World Bank data indicating Liberia’s GDP per capita stood at approximately US$915 in 2025, a mere fraction – less than one percent – of Singapore’s figure.
"The problem is not a lack of resources," Yarkpawolo asserted. "It is our failure to convert them into broad and lasting prosperity."
He elaborated on Liberia's historical reliance on exporting raw materials, such as rubber, minerals, timber, and agricultural commodities. This practice, he argued, has allowed other nations to capture the lion's share of value addition through processing and manufacturing, thereby limiting Liberia’s economic gains.
In this context, Dr. Yarkpawolo commended President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s recent executive actions aimed at boosting domestic processing and value addition. He specifically referenced Executive Orders Nos. 151 and 166, which initially restricted and subsequently banned the export of unprocessed natural rubber, thereby encouraging its domestic transformation into higher-value products like tires, gloves, footwear, and adhesives.
This policy, Yarkpawolo described, represents a crucial stride towards fostering local manufacturing, creating employment opportunities, and enhancing the nation's value-addition capacity. However, he cautioned that the success of such initiatives hinges on complementary developments.
"Such initiatives must be accompanied by reliable electricity, access to financing, technical training, and fair enforcement to enable Liberian businesses to compete and expand," he stressed, highlighting the need for an enabling ecosystem.
Addressing the critical element of competence within public service, Yarkpawolo identified it as a key area requiring prioritization for strengthening Liberian governance. He pointed to programs like the President’s Young Professionals Program (PYPP) as a viable model for recruiting, training, and deploying talented Liberian graduates within government institutions. The EPA boss shared positive experiences with young professionals assigned to the EPA, noting their "exceptional discipline, leadership, and capability." This, he argued, demonstrates that Liberia possesses the necessary human capital to bolster its public institutions when recruitment is merit-based.
Furthermore, Dr. Yarkpawolo called for the fight against corruption in Liberia to transcend mere political rhetoric. He urged the government to ensure that accountability institutions operate with genuine independence, receive adequate funding, and are empowered to conduct investigations free from political interference. He emphasized that Liberia’s laws must be applied equitably to all citizens, regardless of their status, including senior government officials, business magnates, and ordinary citizens.
National development plans, he advocated, should possess a long-term vision, extending beyond the tenure of individual administrations. Priorities in crucial sectors like education, agriculture, infrastructure, industrialization, and natural resource management should be intrinsically linked to budgets, timelines, and transparently reported outcomes.
Yarkpawolo also called for enhanced transparency and professionalism in the negotiation and oversight of natural resource concessions. He argued that Liberia should strategically leverage its natural resource wealth to develop robust domestic industries, rather than perpetuating its role as a primary exporter of raw materials.
His vision is for rubber to fuel manufacturing, timber to be transformed into furniture and other finished goods, agricultural produce to be processed locally, and mineral resources to underpin the growth of supporting industries and technical employment opportunities.
Concluding his powerful commentary, Dr. Yarkpawolo offered a forward-looking perspective: Liberia does not need to unearth additional natural resources to achieve development. Instead, he argued, the nation requires the foundational pillars of "capable institutions, honest leadership, merit-based service, consistent planning, and firm enforcement."
"The greatest resource of a nation is not what lies beneath its soil, but the quality of governance exercised above it," he declared, encapsulating his core message and providing a potent call to action for Liberia's leadership and citizenry.
This perspective from the head of the EPA is particularly significant given Liberia’s economic challenges and its historical reliance on the extractive sector. His call for a paradigm shift towards prioritizing good governance aligns with broader development discourse in West Africa, where issues of resource curse, corruption, and institutional weakness continue to impede progress. The success of initiatives like the rubber export ban, coupled with the development of enabling infrastructure and robust governance mechanisms, will be critical indicators of Liberia's commitment to realizing Dr. Yarkpawolo's vision.
