-In Montserrado Under New Grant Initiative
By Jessica Cox
MONROVIA — The Ministry of Youth and Sports has launched a small-scale grant program placing LRD6 million directly in the hands of young market vendors, in what Minister Atty. Cornelia W. Kruah describes as part of a broader shift toward practical economic empowerment, accessibility, and inclusion in youth development.
The initiative, launched in Montserrado under the Government of Liberia’s National Youth Pathway Program (NYPP), provides LRD30,000 each to 200 beneficiaries.
Addressing beneficiaries at the launch, Kruah urged recipients to transform the assistance into productive ventures capable of generating income, strengthening households, and creating employment for other young people.
She recalled the skepticism that surrounded some of the Ministry’s recent employment interventions, particularly the Cadet and Vacation Jobs Programs, which some young people initially believed had pre-selected beneficiaries. That perception changed, she said, after the Ministry opened the application process and young Liberians responded in large numbers.
For Kruah, the response offered an important lesson: young people are willing to pursue government opportunities when the process is open, accessible, and inclusive.
The Minister challenged recipients to make their participation count, encouraging them to invest rather than treat the funds as temporary relief. She said the Ministry would remain connected to beneficiaries through a database designed to track their progress and alert them to future opportunities — ensuring government support does not end when funds are disbursed.
Kruah also highlighted the participation of young people with disabilities in the application process, emphasizing that economic empowerment programs must not leave persons with disabilities behind.
Delivering the keynote address, Hon. Desire Sattia, Deputy Chief of Finance at the Liberia Maritime Authority, praised the government and the Ministry for creating opportunities for young Liberians, framing the grants as an investment in livelihoods rather than simply an exercise in distributing money.
Sattia described the NYPP as a major government youth-development initiative for the 2026 fiscal year, operating within the government’s broader 2025–2029 development agenda.
According to Sattia, the program is intended to reach more than 60,000 young Liberians across all 15 counties, with interventions covering economic empowerment, education and skills development, employment and transition, social inclusion, and governance. The market-vendor grants form one component of that larger framework.
He reaffirmed the Liberia Maritime Authority’s commitment to working with the Ministry on initiatives that produce sustainable economic opportunities for young people.
Samuel James Kpator, Director of Youth Development at the Ministry, said the market-vendor grants were designed with small-scale entrepreneurs in mind — those who often struggle to secure financing through formal financial institutions.
He said the initiative also aims to challenge the long-standing perception that government opportunities are available primarily to people with connections, describing it as a reflection of Kruah’s call for “no more business as usual.”
Kpator emphasized that building a successful business does not always begin with substantial capital, explaining that small investments can provide a foundation for growth when entrepreneurs manage resources properly, reinvest profits, and remain committed.
He made clear the money is a grant, not a loan. Beneficiaries will not be required to repay the funds, though they remain responsible for using them appropriately. The Ministry intends to provide guidance and follow-up, recognizing that financial assistance produces lasting results when recipients have continued support.
Mr. Abbas Lakis of the Liberia Business Association welcomed the intervention while stressing the importance of sustained mentorship for young entrepreneurs.
Lakis said young people entering business need more than startup capital — they also need guidance on managing enterprises, making financial decisions, and navigating the formal business environment. He pointed to previous youth interventions where beneficiaries received training and financial assistance but struggled because follow-up support was limited.
The Liberia Business Association, he disclosed, has launched a Business Formalization Project aimed at helping young men and women operating small businesses and services formalize their enterprises.
He encouraged grant recipients to see themselves as emerging members of Liberia’s business community and to build enterprises capable of lasting beyond the initial government intervention.
The launch also provided an opportunity for Kruah to strengthen the Ministry’s engagement with the Liberia Maritime Authority.
She acknowledged the Authority’s support during the Ministry’s first 100 days in office, including assistance connected to the nationwide county tour. At the conclusion of that period, Kruah said, the Maritime Authority was recognized as the Ministry’s Youth Champion in appreciation of its support.
She further disclosed that the Ministry has completed a concept note for the resumption of its Beach and Waterway Project, which is expected to expand beyond traditional beach-cleaning activities by incorporating environmental protection and recycling. Kruah called on the Maritime Authority to work with the Ministry in advancing the initiative and mobilizing additional opportunities for young Liberians.
The market-vendor grants add another dimension to the Ministry’s implementation of the NYPP, which is being used as a broader platform encompassing economic empowerment, skills development, education, employment transitions, social inclusion, and participation in governance. The Ministry has also been working to strengthen implementation across Liberia’s 15 counties.
For Kruah, the ultimate measure of the grant program will not be the ceremony at which the funds are handed over, but what beneficiaries accomplish afterward.
The anticipationis that recipients will use the relatively modest investment as a starting point, strengthen their businesses, and create measurable improvements in their livelihoods — a practical test of Kruah’s push for a youth ministry that does more than announce opportunities, but creates pathways through which young Liberians can build businesses, earn incomes, and contribute to national development.
