By: G. Bennie Bravo Johnson, I.
Monrovia: Liberia’s Ministry of States has launch a communication internship for Liberians. The Acting Minister of States for Presidential Affairs, Steve Quah has charged applicants of the program to have the mindset of effective communication during and after the recruitment. He stated that the intend of the internship is not to serve as propagandists of the Presidency, but it is to bring the Government closer to the people.
“This is not about propaganda or what you read on social media. It’s about breaking the information gap that exists between the government and the people. You are the bridge between traditional media and the digital world.”
Minister Quah delivered the charge when the Ministry of States through the office of the Presidential Press Secretary, Atty. Kula Fofana on Monday, October 20, 2025 officially launched the Executive Mansion Communication Internship Program.
The 2025 Internship launched at the Executive Pavilion under the theme “Building the future of public communication through access, integrity, and innovation” is a one-year communication program that seeks to provide aspiring professionals with hands-on experience with the office of the Press Secretary at the Executive Mansion.
The Acting Chief of Staff to the President asserted that in every society, it is the right of the citizen to know what their government is doing. Therefore, further charged the would-be interims to be effective in the discharge of their duties. “Public Communication is the right of the people to know what their government is doing.”
Providing the overview, the Deputy Minister for Public Affairs at the Ministry of State, Anthony Kesselly provided that the program is intended to build the capacity of young people by training them to serve as a bridge between the Executive Mansion and the public through best practices that can improve the department.
“We want to expose people to what we do through the best practices that can improve the department.” However, the Assistant Minister of Press and Public Affairs averred that the communication department of the Executive Mansion is challenged; asserting that the department is the Public Relations arm of the Presidency that projects the messages of the President.
“Every negative attack on the government is directed at the presidency to demonize the President because all those sending those attacks are intending to remove the President. So, you are going to be recruited to tell the good message of the President.” Minister Kesseley stated.
Meanwhile, Atty. Kula Fofona admonished applicants that selection will be based on qualification and work output.
“Many are called few are chosen. You will not get through the process based on the relationships of the people you have in the system. You will get through the process because you are qualified to get through the process. You will be vetted based on your qualifications and what you are able to do.”
Meanwhile, the President of the Press Union of Liberia – PUL, Julious Kunaba lauded the Ministry of States for the initiative. He admonished young professional journalists who will be recruited that upon their recruitment, they no longer serve as professional journalists but public relation officers of the Ministry of States. At the same time, he cautioned those to be recruited to be professional in the discharge of their duties by reporting and defending only the truth.
