By Stephanie M. Duncan
MONROVIA, Liberia — President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has welcomed an initiative by the Friends of Providence Island to preserve and promote the historic site as part of efforts to protect Liberia’s cultural heritage and strengthen historical and cultural tourism.
President Boakai made the remarks Thursday, September 17, 2026, when he met in Washington, D.C. with representatives of the Friends of Providence Island to discuss plans for preserving the island and increasing public awareness of its historical significance.
The delegation was led by Alison Grunder, a former senior United States diplomat who served as Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Liberia from 2018 to 2021, and Allison James, Memorialization Project Director at James Madison’s Montpelier, a historic preservation institution in the United States.
During the meeting, the delegation presented its vision for supporting the preservation of Providence Island and enhancing public appreciation of the site’s role in Liberia’s history and national identity.
President Boakai welcomed the initiative and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting Liberia’s cultural heritage.
According to the presidency, Boakai said preserving Providence Island could contribute to historical education, promote sustainable tourism and create opportunities for communities connected to the site.
The President also called for continued collaboration among relevant government institutions and other stakeholders to develop a nationally coordinated and sustainable approach to the preservation and development of Providence Island.
Providence Island holds an important place in Liberia’s history and is widely associated with the arrival and settlement of the first group of Black American settlers in 1822. The site, located in Monrovia, is therefore regarded as an important landmark in the country’s historical development.
The proposed preservation efforts are expected to help future generations better understand Liberia’s history while strengthening the island’s potential as a destination for cultural and historical tourism.
The meeting was attended by Minister of State Without Portfolio Hadja Mamaka Bility, Director General of the Cabinet Nathaniel T. Kwabo, Liberia’s Ambassador to the United States, Dr. Al-Hassan Conteh, and Deputy Minister for Administration at the Ministry of State, Bill McGill Jones.
The engagement highlighted the government’s interest in working with local and international partners to preserve Liberia’s historical landmarks and promote Providence Island as a site of national heritage.
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