By: Sampat JMB Kpakimah
Monrovia: Scores of civil servants who were previously employed in the Culture Affairs & Tourism department of the Ministry of Information (MOI), were formally transferred to the Liberia National Tourism Authority-LNTA on January 23, 2026.
The transition took place at a formal event held
at the Ministry of Information (MOI), on Capitol Hill.
In a special statement, Information Minister Jerolinmek Matthew Piah, urged LNTA staff to remain united and lend their full support to the Authority’s Director General, Princess Eva Cooper.
He encouraged the staff to take advantage of every opportunity to build their professional capacity, stressing that skills development is essential for adapting to the evolving public service environment
As he bid farewell, Minister Piah pledged continued collaboration with the LNTA Board and management, reminding staff that he remains a member of the LNTA Board and part of the institution’s broader family.
He further cautioned them to conduct themselves professionally at all times, emphasizing that they represent the government of Liberia and must uphold its values and standards as ongoing reforms continue.
Minister Piah commended the Boakai-led government,
noting that its reform agenda requires collective understanding and cooperation from citizens and public servants alike.
Giving her special remark at the ceremony, Princess Eva Cooper, Director General of the Liberia National Tourism Authority-LNTA, assured that the Authority is ready to welcome the transferred staff members as family. She described the occasion as more than a farewell, calling it a strategic realignment of Liberia’s tourism sector.
Madam Cooper acknowledged that the formal transition of Tourism and Culture staff from the Ministry of Information to the LNTA marks a new chapter not only for the affected staff but also for both institutions. She expressed profound gratitude to Minister Piah for what she termed a bold and selfless decision that prioritized national progress over institutional comfort.
She praised his stewardship and advocacy for Tourism and Culture staff, noting that under his leadership at the Ministry of Information, the professionals had been nurtured as storytellers, promoters, and custodians of Liberia’s national identity.
In addition, Cooper commended LNTA Board Chair Ambassador Christopher Onanuga for his tireless advocacy in strengthening the tourism governance structure, as well as the Civil Service Agency and the Governance Commission for facilitating a smooth and timely transition in line with existing laws.
Meanwhile, the Acting Vice Chair for the Governance Commission-GC, Sianeh Juah termed the establishment of the Liberia National Tourism Authority as a result of years of reform-driven efforts aimed at repositioning the tourism sector as a key driver of national development.
She referenced the birth of the LNTA which started from an in-depth review of Liberia’s tourism sector several years ago with the objective of promoting sustained growth, improved governance, and economic diversification.
According to the GC-Vice Chair, consultations were held with government institutions, private sector actors, tourism associations, development partners, and international stakeholders to identify structural gaps and opportunities within the sector.
She said its findings showed that the existing institutional framework required stronger regulatory leadership, prompting the recommendation to extract Tourism and Culture from the Ministry of Information and establish an independent authority to oversee the industry.
Moreover, Juah admitted the role of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who supported the reform initiative and recognized tourism’s economic potential. “It noted that although the draft bill establishing the LNTA was prepared in 2014, continued dialogue and consensus-building eventually paved the way for the Authority’s formal establishment.”
Commission Juah further praised President Joseph Nyuma Boakai for demonstrating political will by signing into law the Act establishing the Liberia National Tourism Authority, in line with the government’s ARREST Agenda. She reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to working closely with the LNTA to advance institutional reform, strengthen governance, and support the sustainable development of Liberia’s tourism sector.
