MONROVIA, May 18 -- Finance and Development Planning Minister, Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, has defended the performance of the Joseph Boakai administration, insisting that the country is steadily advancing despite persistent criticism from political detractors.

Speaking Friday at the launch of the National Cadet Program in Gbarnga, Bong County, Minister Ngafuan told cadets, government officials, and citizens that Liberia is clearly "going forward, not backward."

"Today, through this National Cadet Program, we are about to give hope to more than 1,000 young people of Liberia; yet, our detractors will say Liberia is going backward," he said, drawing applause from the crowd.

The Finance Minister used the occasion both to formally launch the ...