By D. Adam Togba
MONROVIA – The Proposed People’s Action Party (PAP), a rising political movement in Liberia, has announced the preferment of Mr. Ahmed K. Sirleaf as its Acting Chairman. The party, which is on the verge of completing certification and other legal formalities with the National Elections Commission (NEC), is positioning itself as a broad-based movement committed to governance reform, youth empowerment, and socio-economic transformation.
According to PAP officials, Mr. Sirleaf, who left Liberia just three weeks ago to consult with institutions in Washington, D.C. and in the Twin Cities areas of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota on PAP-related matters, is scheduled to return to the country in early September. He has been actively engaged in Liberia’s governance and development efforts and continues to impact society at multiple levels.
An Academic and Professional Profile of Distinction
Mr. Sirleaf brings a rich academic pedigree and international experience to the leadership of PAP. He is a doctoral candidate in Comparative and International Development Education (CIDE) at the University of Minnesota, where he previously earned a Master’s in Public Affairs (MPA) at the prestigious Humphrey School of Public Affairs. He also holds a Master’s in Public International Law & the Settlement of Disputes from the United Nations-mandated University for Peace in Costa Rica, and a Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies from Hamline University, Minnesota.
His research and professional expertise cut across international human rights, transitional justice, post-conflict reconstruction, donor coordination, governance, and alternative dispute resolution all critical areas in Liberia’s fragile democratic and economic recovery.
Proven Leadership in Governance and Development
Mr. Sirleaf is widely recognized as an international human rights and transitional justice expert with over a decade of professional experience. He has served in senior roles with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Liberia, where he advised on donor aid coordination, strategic partnerships, and governance reforms. Notably, he managed the $21 million USAID-funded Liberia Strategic Analysis (LSA) project and co-designed systems that improved coordination of USAID’s $840+ million portfolio in Liberia.
He formerly served as Program Officer for Pathways Home at the Greater Twin Cities United Way in Minnesota, where he led innovations in transforming homeless response systems, particularly for vulnerable youth exiting foster care and adults with justice system involvement. He also directed homeless prevention programs for Minnesota’s largest county, Hennepin County, managing state and federal emergency response funding during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In May–June 2024, Mr. Sirleaf was the only Liberian trainer among three experts invited to train Commissioners and senior staff of the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) on leadership as part of the LRA’s partnership with the Swedish Tax Agency. The intensive week-long training took place at the Farmington Hotel.
Educator, Mentor, and Diplomatic Trainer
Beyond his professional portfolio, Mr. Sirleaf has distinguished himself as an educator and mentor. At the University of Liberia’s Kofi Annan Institute for Conflict Transformation (KAICT), he served for six years as a volunteer lecturer in Global Politics, Peacebuilding, Leadership, and Governance. From 2021 to 2023, he delivered diplomatic training sessions at the Liberia Foreign Service Institute (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), preparing newly appointed ambassadors and foreign service personnel for global assignments.
Earlier in 2009, he led a partnership between the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law, Books for Africa, and Thomson Reuters that brought nearly half a million dollars’ worth of law books and training materials to Liberia, strengthening post-conflict legal education.
Mr. Sirleaf’s mentorship legacy runs deep. Several of his former students now occupy senior roles in government and other key institutions. They include the current Director-General of the Civil Service Agency, the Minister of Youth & Sports, and an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia. Others serve across diverse sectors—at the LRA, in law enforcement, in education, and on World Bank projects in Liberia. Notably, former Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Liberia, Maj. Gen. Prince C. Johnson, and Sadatu Reeves, head of the Liberia National Police Academy, also count among his former students and mentees.
Recognition and Awards
Over the years, Mr. Sirleaf has been honored with several awards for leadership and service, including the U.S. Mission to Liberia Certificates of Appreciation (2016 & 2017) for his role in organizing the Liberia Development Conference and advancing USAID’s learning and evaluation systems.
Other distinctions include the Hamline University Outstanding Achievement Award (2015) for extraordinary humanitarian impact, the Art Naftalin Public Service Award (2012) at the University of Minnesota, and the UST Human Rights Award (2008) for his scholarly contributions to global human rights advocacy.
PAP’s Vision and the Road Ahead
PAP, under the political influence of Senator Saah H. Joseph of Montserrado County, has positioned itself as a people-driven party modeled after Singapore’s ruling People’s Action Party. At a recent community engagement, Senator Joseph declared, “The People’s Action Party will be the party for all. We are not yet focused on elections but on improving the lives of the people.”
Mr. Sirleaf’s appointment is seen as central to building PAP’s credibility both nationally and internationally. “Liberia is at a critical juncture,” one PAP official noted. “With youth unemployment, economic hardship, and social inequality deepening, we need a leader with the expertise, networks, and vision to navigate complex challenges. Ahmed brings all of that to PAP.”
A Chairman for the Times
As PAP prepares for its official launch and convention, Mr. Sirleaf’s blend of academic excellence, professional competence, and international exposure is expected to help strengthen the party’s institutional foundation. His career-long focus on collective action, governance, and public sector reforms aligns with PAP’s declared mission of improving livelihoods and ensuring inclusive political participation for all Liberians, especially the youth and vulnerable groups.
Party officials confirmed that Mr. Sirleaf will “soon be in Liberia to lead consultations, mobilize supporters, and set the party on a path of genuine reform and inclusive governance.”
