-As Youth and Sports Minister
Monrovia, Liberia – The Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL) has welcomed President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s nomination of Attorney Cornelia W. Kruah as the new Minister of Youth and Sports, hailing it as a strategic and necessary move for the nation’s future.
The nomination arrives at a critical juncture for Liberia, where a significant youth demographic grapples with high unemployment, limited opportunities, and social vulnerability. WONGOSOL asserts that placing a woman at the helm of this pivotal ministry marks a substantial advance toward more inclusive and responsive governance for both young people and women.
“This appointment is both symbolic and strategic,” stated Esther S. D. Yango, Executive Director of WONGOSOL. “Liberia’s youth population is large and diverse, and women understand these realities deeply. We are confident that Attorney Cornelia W. Kruah is competent, well-suited, and capable of delivering on the youth agenda while addressing critical challenges affecting young people nationwide.”
As a young woman herself, Atty. Kruah is seen as bringing a relatable voice and firsthand perspective to the ministry, positioning her to effectively champion policies that address longstanding gaps in youth development and sports.
WONGOSOL contextualized the nomination within a broader landscape of gender inequality in public service. Citing the Civil Service Agency’s 2025 workforce report, which reveals women hold only 23% of civil service roles and a mere 15% of appointed official positions, the organization framed Kruah’s appointment as a positive yet insufficient step.
“The 15–85 gender gap in appointments is untenable,” the organization noted. To build on this progress, WONGOSOL publicly called on the President to fill the subsequent vacancy—the Deputy Minister for Administration at the Ministry of State, previously held by Atty. Kruah—with another qualified woman. Such an action, they argued, would demonstrate a sustained commitment to dismantling systemic barriers.
As the nomination proceeds to the Liberian Senate for confirmation, WONGOSOL urged lawmakers to ensure a prompt and favorable process. Confirming Atty. Kruah, they emphasized, would be a tangible move toward improving women’s representation in national leadership.
The organization also expressed gratitude to the outgoing Minister, Cllr. Jerror Cole Bangalu, acknowledging his service and his role as a HeForShe champion who supported youth development and gender-inclusive policies.
WONGOSOL reaffirmed its commitment to partnering with the Ministry of Youth and Sports under its new leadership to advance goals of equity, inclusion, and sustainable development for all Liberian youth.
The Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL) is a non-governmental, non-discriminatory, and secular women’s organization established in 1998. It serves as the umbrella body coordinating the activities of over 250 women-led organizations across Liberia’s 15 counties. WONGOSOL works to empower women and girls, promote gender equality, advocate for women’s inclusion in governance and peacebuilding, and advance human rights and social
