By Jamesetta D Williams
MONROVIA – Liberia and Sierra Leone have agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation on youth development, empowerment, innovation, and peacebuilding following a high-level meeting between officials of both countries in Monrovia.
The engagement, held on June 9 at the Ministry of Youth and Sports headquarters in Paynesville, brought together Liberia’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Atty. Cornelia W. Kruah, and Sierra Leone’s Minister of Youth Affairs, Hon. Ibrahim Sannoh.
The discussions focused on strengthening regional collaboration, sharing best practices, and creating new opportunities for young people across the Mano River Union region.
Speaking during the meeting, Minister Kruah highlighted Liberia’s efforts to expand youth-centered programs under President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s ARREST Agenda.
She outlined several initiatives aimed at empowering young people, including the renovation of youth centers in all fifteen counties, expansion of the National Cadet Program, establishment of county-based digital hubs, and plans to produce the country’s first annual State of the Youth Report.
According to Minister Kruah, the responsibility of youth leadership extends beyond national borders and requires regional cooperation to address common challenges and create opportunities for future generations.
Minister Sannoh, meanwhile, shared Sierra Leone’s experiences in implementing youth-focused programs, including electric vehicle initiatives, agricultural projects, technical skills development programs, and decentralized youth governance structures designed to increase grassroots participation in decision-making processes.
He described the bilateral engagement as a reflection of the two countries’ shared commitment to empowering young people and strengthening regional partnerships.
During the discussions, both governments agreed to pursue a series of collaborative initiatives, including annual exchanges of youth development reports, study tours focused on youth governance systems, cooperation in digital skills development and agriculture, and joint advocacy on Youth, Peace and Security issues.
Liberia also confirmed its participation in the inaugural Mano River Youth Connect, a regional forum scheduled to take place in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
The event is expected to bring together young leaders from across the region to discuss youth empowerment, climate action, peace and security, and cultural exchange.
As part of a rotational hosting arrangement among Mano River Union member states, Liberia is expected to host the forum in 2027.
The two ministries further agreed to appoint focal persons to coordinate future engagements and explore the development of a formal Memorandum of Understanding to institutionalize cooperation between the two countries.
The meeting concluded with both governments reaffirming their commitment to strengthening regional integration and advancing youth-centered policies and programs that create opportunities for young people throughout the Mano River Union region.
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