The newly appointed Youth and Sports Minister Atty. Cornelia Wonkerleh Kruah on Saturday attended her first Congress of the Liberia Football Association (LFA), using the occasion to call for unity and strict adherence to the association’s statutes ahead of its upcoming elections in April.
Minister Kruah urged stakeholders to safeguard the spirit of cohesion traditionally associated with football; warning against divisions that could undermine the sport’s unifying power.
“As the LFA prepares for elections in April, we urge all parties to remain engaged but accommodating of diversity in views and choices,” Kruah said.
She emphasized that while contestation is a normal part of democratic processes, it must not weaken the institutional integrity of football governance in Liberia.
“Let us ensure that politics doesn’t erode the ‘unity’ that football is known to promote,” the Minister stated.
Kruah stressed that the laws, policies, and regulations guiding the LFA must be upheld throughout the electoral process to ensure credibility and stability.
“To enable this, the laws, policies and rules that govern the LFA must be respected at all times,” she added.
The Minister also expressed appreciation to LFA President Mustapha Raji and his executive team for their stewardship and contributions to the growth of football in the country.
“My appreciation to President Raji and his team for their leadership and contributions to football in Liberia,” Kruah noted.
Beyond the elections, the Minister outlined the government’s broader commitment to sports development, pledging continued investment in infrastructure nationwide.
“Under our leadership, we will ensure continued infrastructure development in sports while prioritizing the development of talents, especially of young people,” she said.
She highlighted youth empowerment as central to the government’s sports agenda, noting that football and other disciplines offer pathways to education, employment, and national pride.
Kruah further underscored the need to expand opportunities for women and girls in sports, particularly in football, where participation has historically been male-dominated.
“Additionally, we would like to see increased interest in the inclusion of women in football and other sports,” she said.
The LFA Congress, which brings together delegates from clubs and regional associations, is a key decision-making forum for Liberian football.
With elections scheduled for April, attention is now turning to how the process will unfold and whether calls for unity and respect for the rules will shape the outcome.
