By Emmanuel M. Kangar, Jr.
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. has issued Executive Order No. 163, launching the National Digitalization and Modernization Initiative (NDMI) and establishing a new Office of Technology, Digitalization and Innovation (OTDI) as part of a sweeping reform aimed at modernizing Liberia’s public sector and advancing the country’s digital future.
Signed on April 22, 2026, the Executive Order mandates a whole-of-government transformation of public service delivery through secure, interoperable, and standards-based digital systems. The initiative is designed to streamline government operations, reduce fragmentation and waste, and improve efficiency in the delivery of public services.
At the center of the reform is the creation of OTDI, housed within the Office of the President, which will serve as the central coordinating authority for digital governance, enterprise architecture, and cybersecurity across all ministries, agencies, and commissions. The office will also be responsible for setting government-wide technical standards, maintaining a national inventory of digital systems, and issuing technical clearance for major ICT investments to ensure compliance with interoperability and architecture requirements.
The National Digitalization and Modernization Initiative seeks to accelerate the digitization of public services, enable secure data exchange among government platforms, and promote the consolidation and reuse of shared digital infrastructure where appropriate and lawful. Government officials say the reforms are intended to enhance transparency, strengthen public trust, and ensure more prudent management of public resources.
To safeguard national systems and citizen data, the Order strengthens cybersecurity requirements for all government digital platforms in coordination with the Ministries of Posts and Telecommunications and Justice. It also places strong emphasis on data privacy, requiring that all interoperability and data-sharing arrangements comply with constitutional protections and relevant laws.
Oversight of the initiative will be provided by a Digital Government Steering Committee chaired by the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs. The committee will supervise implementation and ensure coordination across government institutions.
Importantly, the Executive Order clarifies that it does not amend, suspend, or override any existing Act of the Legislature and preserves the statutory independence of key institutions, including the Central Bank of Liberia and the Liberia Revenue Authority.
All public ICT procurement will continue to be governed by the Public Procurement and Concessions Act.
Executive Order No. 163 takes immediate effect and will remain in force for one year. Within 180 days, OTDI is required to submit a detailed implementation roadmap, including initial versions of a Government Enterprise Architecture Framework and a Government Interoperability Framework.
The directive is being viewed as a cornerstone of the Boakai administration’s broader governance reform agenda, laying the institutional foundation for expanded e-government services, digital identity systems, and modernized public service delivery in Liberia.
