SANNIQUELLIE CITY, Nimba County — The Ministry of Information, Culture Affairs and Tourism’s new public engagement initiative, “The Government Town Hall (Kapa Kulono — Come Let’s Talk It),” was held on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at the Sanniquellie City Hall.
The event, themed “The Boakai — Koung Led Administration’s Progress for the 18th Months Covering all Sectors,” brought together scores of citizens, stakeholders, traditional leaders, religious leaders, business communities, students, and youth.
The Government Town Hall aims to strengthen dialogue between government officials and citizens across all 15 counties, promoting inclusiveness, accountability, transparency, access to information, and participatory governance in Liberia.
This initiative underscores the government’s commitment to decentralization and bringing governance closer to the people.
The ceremony featured a panel discussion between local citizens and high-level government officials, including Information Minister Jerolinmek M. Piah, Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Commerce, Labor, Land Mines and Energy, Public Works, Finance, Education, Post and Telecommunication, Office of War and Economic Crimes Court, and others.
In a welcome remarks, Nimba County Superintendent, Kou Meapeh Gono, lauded the Ministry of Information for selecting Nimba to host the second edition of the Government Town Hall Initiative.
“To the Ministry of Information, Honourable Minister Piah, we say we are grateful that Nimba has been selected. This government has been doing a lot over the last 18 months,” she stated.
Information Minister Jerolinmek M. Piah, in an opening address, emphasized the importance of direct communication between citizens and government officials.
“We’ve been struggling to find out how the people fit into all these means of communication. So we say we’ve got to find a way where we take the government to the people,” he said.
The event provided a platform for citizens to ask questions and engage with government officials on key national issues of concern.
Minister Piah added, “If you look in this hall, all of them are here, your Superintendent, Agriculture Minister, Commerce Minister, Finance Ministry, Labor Ministry, the War and Economic Crimes Court, Foreign Ministry, all of them here. Ordinarily, you will not have the chance to see them.”
By bringing government officials and citizens together, the initiative fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility, ultimately contributing to the country’s development.
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
Minister Dehpue Zuo, Deputy Minister for Economic Management at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, reaffirmed President Boakai’s commitment to the A R R E S T pillar development-drive.
The A R R E S T agenda focuses on Agriculture, Road, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation, and Tourism, a five-key roadmap for the administration.
Minister Zuo emphasized that economic transformation is a key priority for the administration. He stated: “When the president took office, we, I mean Liberia was bad off. In fact, we were owing people plenty money.”
He highlighted that President Boakai sees the need for the country to rely on its own resources and ensure that citizens have access to financial services.
Minister Zuo quoted President Boakai as saying: “We can’t depend on different people’s money. We have to depend on our own money, right? So the best thing to do is to ensure that what we own in our pocket is good and we know how to use it.”
The Minister discussed the administration’s plans for infrastructure development, including road construction and electricity provision.
He said: “You are going to Grand Gedeh. For now, those who come from Ganta go to Tappita. So now they’re not sleeping in the mud anymore.”
He emphasized the importance of infrastructure in facilitating economic growth and improving the quality of life for citizens.
Minister Zuo highlighted the importance of access to financial services, stating: “People who want to look for money to make a market, they have access to banks. So you hear almost all the banks now, people are getting money.” He also mentioned the role of mobile money in facilitating financial transactions.
Under the A R R E S T agenda, the administration is committed to improving the education system and healthcare services. Minister Zuo stated: “We want to ensure the education system from college all the way to elementary school, so that our children have the opportunity.”
He emphasized the importance of quality education and foundational learning: “What we need for your children to be good students, good citizens, is the quality of education.”
The administration also aims to ensure that primary healthcare is fully taken care of. In conclusion, Minister Zuo said the Boakai-Koung’s A R R E S T agenda is a comprehensive development plan that aims to transform the Liberian economy and improve the lives of citizens.
He added that the administration is committed to implementing the agenda and ensuring that citizens benefit from the development initiatives.
In conclusion, Minister Zuo’s presentation provided insight into the administration’s vision and plans for the future, and citizens were able to ask questions and provide input on the development initiatives.
AGRICULTURE MINISTRY
Minister of Agriculture, Alexander Nuetah, has vowed to improve Liberia’s agriculture sector and food sufficiency, leveraging the country’s rich and fertile soil.
With vast knowledge and experience, Minister Nuetah is well-equipped to lead the country’s food sector.
“Agriculture is the backbone of Liberia’s economy, creating jobs for over 75% of the population and contributing more than 35% to the country’s GDP,” Minister Nuetah said.
He emphasized that Liberia’s 9.6 million hectares of land, with 1.5 million hectares being water-rich, make it an ideal place for agricultural production.
“If you have that potential, it means you should not be poor. Liberia should not be a poor country. Liberians should be able to feed themselves,” Minister Nuetah emphasized.
Nimba County is Minister Nuetah’s favorite county due to its vast agricultural potential.
“Nimba is the county that has the potential to feed us in all of the crops,” he said. The county’s fertile land makes it suitable for growing rice, cassava, corn, coffee, and oil palm.
Liberia has 4.06 million hectares of land suitable for crop production, with Nimba County falling within the green zones for various crops.
Minister Nuetah highlighted the country’s potential for producing coffee, particularly Liberica, a unique coffee brand that won a world prize in America 100 years ago.
“We can grow more coffee to help ourselves, and we have not been helping ourselves, which is a problem,” he emphasized.
Under President Boakai’s leadership, the Ministry of Agriculture has developed the NADP 2024-2030, aiming to drive national economic growth and ensure food security.
The plan focuses on Agricultural Infrastructure Development, Food Security, and Economic Growth — driving national economic growth through strategic investments in agricultural infrastructure, technology, and research.
Minister Nuetah emphasized the importance of enabling farmers to produce more rice, cassava, and other crops to feed themselves and generate income. By leveraging Liberia’s agricultural potential, the country can reduce poverty and achieve self-sufficiency in food production.
“Liberians should be able to feed themselves,” Minister Nuetah aptly put it. The NADP aims to transform the agricultural sector, making it a profitable business that attracts all Liberians, particularly the youth.
EDUCATION MINISTRY
Atty. Nyekeh Y. Forkpa, Deputy Minister of Education for Administration, reconfirmed the Ministry’s commitment to providing affordable, equitable, and accessible education under the Boakai-Koung administration.
Speaking on behalf of Education Minister Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah, Minister Forkpa emphasized the importance of the serious educational reform underway by Minister Jarso to train the next generation of Liberian leaders.
Defining Accessible, Affordable, and Equitable Education, Minister Forkpa explained that accessible education means schools should be located near residential areas, making it easier for students to attend. Affordable education implies that schools should be reasonably priced, while equitable education ensures that everyone, including those with disabilities, has access to quality education.
Upon assuming office, Minister Jallah conducted a nationwide assessment of schools, revealing several challenges, including dilapidated school buildings, lack of qualified teachers in public schools, high costs of education — making it inaccessible to many, volunteer teachers not on the government payroll, with some being underpaid.
Minister Forkpa disclosed that in order to address these challenges, the government has implemented several initiatives, including extension of 28 Junior High Schools to Senior High Schools, allowing students to complete their secondary education in their communities.
Established science labs in 28 High Schools, with plans to add 50 more this academic year, enabling students to participate in science subjects without difficulties.
Minister Forkpa also detailed the achievement of digital labs — introduced computer labs in 156 schools, with plans to expand to all government high schools, ensuring students are computer-literate.
He added that the government is procuring 20,000 chairs for public high schools to improve learning conditions, and over 2,000 volunteer teachers are being put on the payroll, addressing the issue of unpaid and underpaid teachers.
The Ministry of Education’s commitment to affordable, equitable, and accessible education is evident in the initiatives implemented under Boakai-Koung’s ARREST pillars.
These efforts aim to improve the quality of education, increase access, and ensure that Liberian students are well-equipped to take on leadership roles in the future.
WAR AND ECONOMIC CRIMES COURT
The Office of War and Economic Crimes Court (OWECC) is making significant progress in its mission to establish a War and Economic Crimes Court and a Special Court for Anti-Corruption in Liberia.
Dr. Jallah Barbu, Executive Director of OWECC, disclosed that the institution has been in existence for 10 months and has made great strides in preparation for prosecuting individuals effectively by November 2026.
According to Dr. Barbu, President Joseph Nyumah Boakai mandated the OWECC to establish the War and Economic Crimes Court and the Liberia Anti-Corruption Court before the end of his first term.
“The president requested that there shouldn’t be any noise in the office, he needed credibility, and the work should be done in time,” Dr. Barbu explained.
Dr. Barbu expressed gratitude to the President for appointing him as the new Executive Director, along with his team. “With the team we have and with the role map, we can assure you that by next year by this time, we will have a court ready,” he said.
The OWECC Executive Director emphasized the importance of fighting corruption, stating that “corruption is giving people trouble, it is a human rights issue, it can prevent our children from having good schools, no good hospitals, so we are going to fight corruption in a very serious way.”
The War and Economic Crimes Court is expected to start prosecuting people for corruption in 2026 and bring warlords to face justice in 2027.
OWECC has secured office space, engaged civil society stakeholders, developed a roadmap, conducted study tours to Sierra Leone and Ethiopia, launched a website, and initiated a high school competition to design a court logo.
The Liberian government has allocated $368,000 and an additional $313,000 in the 2025 fiscal budget, with support from international partners, including the UK government, which donated $5,000.
Dr. Barbu’s commitment to justice and accountability is evident in the OWECC’s progress, and the office is working expeditiously to ensure the hybrid War and Economic Crimes Court is established and fully functional.
Officially launched at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congotown on Wednesday, May 7, 202, the “Government Town Hall (Kapa Kulono — Come Let’s Talk It)” is a significant step towards promoting transparency, accountability, and participatory governance in Liberia.
