By Jamesetta D Williams
Monrovia-The Government of Liberia is set to hold the fourth edition of its Government Town Hall in Bomi County, with a focus on the extractive industry and challenges confronting the country’s mining sector.
Deputy Minister for Press and Public Affairs at the Ministry of Information, Daniel O. Sando, said the town hall will bring together residents and stakeholders to discuss issues affecting communities involved in or impacted by mining activities.
Sando made the disclosure Thursday at the Ministry of Information’s Charles Gbenyon Hall in Monrovia.
According to him, the forum will bring together citizens, students, elders, chiefs, members of the county legislative caucus, intellectuals and representatives of the disabled community.
He said residents will have the opportunity to raise concerns about the mining sector, including illicit mining and concession-related issues affecting communities in Western Liberia.
Sando said the panel is expected to include the Minister of Mines and Energy, Liberia Revenue Authority Commissioner General Dorbor Jallah, Minister of Finance and Development Planning Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, and Abraham Kromah, head of a presidential task force established to protect Liberia’s natural resources and combat illicit mining.
The Deputy Minister said the town hall forms part of the Ministry of Information’s broader public outreach program aimed at creating direct engagement between citizens and government officials.
Meanwhile, Sando announced that the Ministry of Information has completed the final draft of a proposed National Communication Policy and Strategy for the Government of Liberia.
He said the document is scheduled for validation on October 16, 2026, with ministries, agencies and commissions expected to participate.
According to Sando, the validation process is intended to give government institutions an opportunity to review the document and provide input before it is submitted to Cabinet for consideration and possible endorsement.
He said if endorsed by Cabinet, the document would serve as a government-wide communication policy.
The proposed policy addresses several areas, including government branding, public outreach, misinformation and disinformation, cyberspace communication and other aspects of Liberia’s national communication landscape.
Sando said members of the media will be invited to cover the open session of the validation exercise, while government institutions will continue discussions on the document afterward.
The Deputy Minister also defended the government’s ongoing prosecution of individuals indicted in connection with an alleged drug-importation case.
Referring to earlier remarks by Acting Solicitor General Cllr. Abraham Boimah Sillah, Sando criticized what he described as attempts by some individuals to declare the indictment flawed without adequately reviewing its contents.
He argued that the government should be allowed to present its evidence through the judicial process.
Sando cautioned against what he characterized as unnecessary public commentary that could distract from the prosecution, stressing that the government would not respond to every statement surrounding the case.
He said attention should instead remain on the legal process and allow the courts to determine the matter.
At the same time, Minister Sando has defended President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s recent international engagements, dismissing criticism of the President’s participation in the United Nations General Assembly and his subsequent engagement with Liberians in the diaspora.
Sando said the President’s international activities were undertaken in the interest of Liberia and should not be viewed as a personal trip.
Gongloe had reportedly criticized President Boakai’s participation in the UN General Assembly and his engagement with Liberians living abroad.
In response, Sando described the criticism as overly negative, arguing that the President’s participation in international events is part of Liberia’s diplomatic responsibilities.
According to Sando, President Boakai’s presence at the United Nations General Assembly provided an opportunity for Liberia to advance its interests, engage international partners and strengthen the country’s diplomatic visibility.
He stressed that the President’s participation was not for personal reasons, saying the administration has a responsibility to represent Liberia at major international gatherings.
Sando also defended the President’s engagement with Liberians in the diaspora, saying Liberians living outside the country remain an important part of Liberia’s development process.
He said members of the diaspora possess skills, expertise and resources that can contribute to national development if properly engaged.
“Liberians abroad can contribute to the development of the country,” Sando said, emphasizing the potential role of the diaspora in supporting Liberia’s growth.
The Deputy Minister further urged critics of the government to provide balanced assessments of the administration’s activities.
While acknowledging the importance of criticism in a democratic society, he said criticism should be constructive and based on a fair assessment of government actions.
Sando maintained that the administration remains open to constructive criticism but should also be given recognition when its activities are aimed at promoting Liberia’s interests.
He concluded by thanking Liberian journalists for what he described as balanced coverage of President Boakai’s recent international engagements.
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