By G. Watson Richards
The Minister of Youth and Sports, Atty. Cornelia W. Kruah, has launched the second phase of a nationwide decentralization tour in Gbah Jakeh, Bomi County, as part of efforts to reshape youth engagement policies across Liberia.
The initiative marks a shift from the Ministry’s previous centralized approach, which largely focused on Montserrado County. The new phase prioritizes direct engagement with young people in their communities, allowing policymakers to better understand their specific challenges, needs, and aspirations.
According to the Ministry, the strategy is intended to promote a more inclusive, grassroots-driven model of youth development, with programs tailored to local realities rather than uniformly replicated nationwide.
A key component of the initiative is collaboration. The Ministry plans to work closely with local authorities, youth organizations, and community-based groups across the country to design and implement programs that directly benefit young people.
By strengthening these partnerships, the Ministry aims to foster community ownership of youth-focused initiatives, ensuring they are both sustainable and impactful.
Minister Kruah said the tour aligns with the government’s ARREST Agenda, championed by President Joseph Nyumah Boakai, which seeks to advance inclusive national development.
She emphasized that young people must play a central role in shaping policies that affect them, noting that effective interventions should reflect their lived experiences and ambitions.
Discussions during the visit highlighted a major concern among youth in concession areas such as Gbah Jakeh, the limited access to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
Participants pointed to the lack of training centers offering skills aligned with the needs of concession companies operating in their communities.
During an interactive session at the Gbah Intellectual Center, many young people called for the establishment of vocational institutions to improve their employment prospects and economic opportunities.
Minister Kruah, among other things acknowledged these concerns and assured participants that their priorities would be incorporated into the Ministry’s ongoing planning and interventions.
She noted that expanding access to practical, market-relevant skills training is critical to addressing youth unemployment and empowering communities.
The launch of Phase II in Bomi County underscores the Ministry’s commitment to decentralization and inclusive governance.
It also signals a broader shift toward participatory policymaking, with young people actively involved in designing solutions to the challenges they face.
The Ministry expressed optimism that the initiative will strengthen youth engagement nationwide and contribute to long-term socio-economic development.
It further indicated that similar engagements will continue across other counties as part of its broader effort to ensure no young person is left behind.
