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The Revolutionary National Youth League of the indomitable Congress for Democratic Change-CDC, representing the core of Liberia’s most youthful democratic vibrancy, extends its revolutionary solidarity greetings to all unemployed and vulnerable young people who continue to suffer under the Unity Party worsening economic hardship and rising youth unemployment which the World Bank couldn’t have said it any better.
We issue this urgent statement regarding the Minister of Youth and Sports (MYS) Ms. Cornelia Wonkerleh Kruah recent letter addressed to the Youth League which flagged the Ministry’s alarming drift from its central statutory mandate under the Unity Party–led Government headed by Mr. Joseph N. Boakai and Vice President Jeremiah K. Koung.
On February 17, 2026, we received a heart-breaking letter marked with greed, lack of patriotism and desperation for power from the Minister of Youth and Sports Ms. Cornelia Wonkerleh Kruah inviting political party youth leaders to an inter-party acquaintance meeting at an entertainment center called Bella Casa.
This location reminds us that our sisters and children are still being abused and molested at this place, while the Minister serves as a co-conspirator. This is the same location where the Unity Party war room was stationed and mass child sex traffickers, and sexual abuse were ongoing. This deliberate abuse of power by the Minister in less than a week after her appointment and confirmation, suggests a misplaced priority and an early politicization of a Ministry whose responsibilities are clearly outlined in the Act establishing the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Such a meeting bears no direct relationship to the Ministry’s statutory obligations.
This decisive misstep is not merely administrative blunder; it sends a message of a deeper governance and moral crisis that demands immediate attention. The Ministry’s core responsibilities include youth employment, skills development, grassroots sports advancement, and providing young people with technical and vocational education and training opportunities.
Within less than a week in office, the Minister appears to have overlooked the urgent need to address neglected programs and unfulfilled promises made to Liberia’s youth. The World Bank reports indicate that approximately 70% of young people in Liberia fall into the category of Not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEET) under the Unity Party government.
At the same time, young people are increasingly exposed to drug abuse and substance dependency, leading to serious mental health challenges. The government must return to its statutory obligation to create meaningful employment and development pathways for young people and not thrive on distractions. T
he same went on for the government prioritizing the building of the Unity Party Headquarters in all fifteen counties in less than two years in leadership. They used the budget to dish out illegal money and abuse of power.
It is particularly concerning that tax payers money is being diverted toward inappropriate activities (buying young people alcohol and drugs) rather than sustainable youth empowerment initiatives. Such misguided steps must be condemned. We therefore urge the government to fulfill the promises made to young people during Mr. Boakai’s first State of the Nation Address.
Unfulfilled Promises to Liberia’s Youth
Digital Skills Training
The promise to train 10,000 youth in digital skills by mid-2024 to enhance employment opportunities in the ICT sector remains unfulfilled. Instead of creating pathways to meaningful employment, the Ministry has left young people unprepared for emerging opportunities. The Minister must focus on her core responsibilities and do her JOB.
National Youth Service Program (LYSEP) and TVET Commission
The proposed National Youth Service Program and the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Commission were intended to prepare youth for leadership and employment. These initiatives have stalled, depriving young Liberians of critical opportunities for growth. The Minister must focus on her statutory mandate and do her JOB.
Master’s Degree Work-Study Program
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced a USD $25 million program for 250 Liberian students to study STEM and Artificial Intelligence in the United States. Unfortunately, this initiative collapsed amid fraud involving NEKOTECH, with young people fees collected and no scholarships delivered. Not one student benefited. Accountability is urgently required and someone must be held accountable for the act of corruption displayed.
Rehabilitation of At-Risk Youth
Mr. Joseph Boakai 2024 SONA pledged to “spare no resource” in addressing the drug epidemic and rehabilitating affected youth remains unfulfilled. Rising substance abuse and the absence of clear policy direction leave vulnerable youth without adequate support services. Families are increasingly losing their children to drugs and substance abuse.
Education and Job Creation
Mr. Joseph Boakai 2024 SONA promised to bridge the gap between education and employment has not materialized. Young people remain the most unemployed and vulnerable demographic, with limited access to dignified jobs in Liberia.
An Insult to Our Future
Inviting youth to an entertainment gathering while they struggle to pay school fees, rent, and provide for their families demonstrates a serious misreading of national priorities. Young Liberians do not seek entertainment; they demand meaningful opportunities, employment, and sustainable solutions to their challenges.
Call to Action: Demand Justice, Accountability, and Reform
The ongoing issues of child abuse, exploitation, and systemic governance failures highlight a troubling lack of accountability. The youth of Liberia demand more than rhetoric; they demand decisive action and genuine solutions.
Critical programs such as the National Cadet Program, the At-Risk Youth Empowerment Program, and the Temporary Employment for Community Youth (TECY) Program—formerly the Liberia Beaches and Waterways Project—have deteriorated or stalled due to lack of support.
The government has continuously ignored the voices and needs of young people, it is time that it bears full responsibility for her arrogance. The time for reform is now. Mr. Joseph N. Boakai must be accountable for the promises made to Liberia’s youth.
The Revolutionary National Youth League remains STRONG in its commitment to advocating for the rights, empowerment, and sustainable development of all young Liberians.
Signed:
Emmanuel M. Johnson
Chairman
RNYL-CDC
