She cautioned that the task ahead will be challenging, requiring much sacrifice, but expressed the hope that they will make decisions always in the interest of the people of Liberia.

According to a Foreign Ministry release, Minister Kamara made the remarks when she performed her first commissioning of 11 Foreign Service Officers at the ministry during the weekend.

She admitted that there are still a number of challenges to address in the Foreign Service, but assured that continuing efforts are underway to improve the Service by reinforcing policies and regulations and improving conditions of service.

Minister Kamara also revealed that the fourth edition of the Foreign Service Manual has been completed and that many other measures have been taken for the
betterment of service.

Liberia’s top diplomat stressed that the Foreign Ministry’s top three priorities, till the end of this administration, are to improve service delivery to and relations with clients, transform the Liberia Foreign Service and effectively make operational existing bilateral and multilateral agreements for speedy recovery, growth and development.

Therefore, she said, “Commissioning qualified and competent Foreign Service Officers contribute to all three of the Ministry’s deliverables.”

She pointed out that they were commissioned to make their contributions to improving service delivery abroad, positively transforming Liberia’s Missions and enhancing the operationalization of existing bilateral and multilateral engagements, with specific focus on economic diplomacy.

Commenting on individuals visualizing life at posts abroad to be glamorous, Ministry Kamara admonished Foreign Service Officers instead to be resilient in the face of current realities and be prepared to make immense sacrifices.

She urged them to be mindful that their stay and upward movement in the Service will largely depend on the value addition they bring to the service.

“For too long we have been content with mediocrity and complacency, even when we have not fully achieved our desired objectives,” she pointed out, adding that as emissaries of Liberia, it is incumbent on them to strive unrelentingly for excellence wherever they find themselves.

“It is imperative that each officer contributes, at his or her level, to achieving the goals of the mission,” she emphasized.
LINA PR/TSS