Liberia and Sierra Leone Conclude Phase Two of GOLA-REAP Steering Committee Meeting
By Princess Kossigba
Monrovia, Liberia – Friday
Over the weekend the Governments of Liberia and Sierra Leone, in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the World Food Programme (WFP), and other partners, convened the second phase of the joint project steering committee meeting of the GOLA Resilience, Empowerment, Access, and Peacebuilding (GOLA-REAP) Project. The meeting aimed to review and assess project updates, as well as to provide strategic guidance for the next phase of implementation.
Bridging the gap between both countries, the meeting brought together members of the steering committee from Sierra Leone and Liberia, They include; the Ministry of internal Affairs as chair, the United Nations Resident Coordinators as co-chair, the ministry of Planning and Economic Development, the ministry of Agriculture, forestry Authorities, the Immigration services, other government line ministries directly involved in the project, project districts, local authorities, international and regional partners and other meaningful invitees.
The project is a joint initiative between Liberia and Sierra Leone, funded by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund. It aims to foster crossborder collaboration, strengthen resilience, promote sustainable livelihoods, peacebuilding, and enhance cooperation among communities, law enforcement, and government agencies in both countries.
A can be recalled on April 3, 2025 both countries held the first steering committee meeting in Bo Sierra Leone bringing together delegates to discuss issues of importance in relations to the Gola REAP project .
Speaking on behalf of the Government of Liberia on Friday October 3, 2025 at a local hotel in Monrovia, the minister of Internal Affairs of Liberia (MIA) Francis Nyumalin, emphasized that the GOLA-REAP project should focus on addressing pressing issues by enhancing community resilience and Border cohesiveness.
He affirmed that, the Government of President Joseph Boakai is committed to protecting the Forest, Community resilience, sustaining of peace, and enable reconciliation in the MRU region, peace, security, and social cohesion that foresters sustainable livelihoods for Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Minister Nyumalin attributedLiberia’s underdevelopment to the mismanagement of the natural Resources, Weak Institutions, couple with inadequate strategist Leadership.
“The Under development of Liberia is due to the misused of the county’s natural Resources, couple withinadequate leadership. But we are glad to have President Joseph N. Boakai as president is going to transform this country, and revamps the local government and strengthen all Institutions” he noted.
For his part the Minister of Internal Affairs of Sierra Leone, Morie Lengor called on all Africans to work harder in order to breech Colonials Boundaries that keeping Africa apart.
“Except for the border that I crossed, I don’t feel like am in another country that is why, Africa must work harder to breech Colonials Boundaries that is keeping us apart as a continent”.
Minister Lengor stated that, theproject has further strengthen Liberia-Sierra Leone relationship as one people.
Giving his testimony of the two countries relationship, Honorable Morie Lengor highlighted ” not too long ago I received a consistent and alarming calls from my people at the border that there is a looming conflicts between they and Liberia. Right away I called my brother Francis Nyumalin who assured me of resolving the issues, and truth to his words, it was resolved and when I reported to my Parliament everybody was happy”.
He used the occasion to appreciate all of the partners on behalf of the Government and the people of Sierra Leone, for providing Funds to sustain Peace, Prevent Conflicts, Protecting Wild life, Biodiversity, and the Conservation of the GOLA Forest, Promote Climate change on the local level.
The minister went on to call on the implementing partners to focus on enhancing community resilience andencouraged the Governments in both Countries to commit themselves to ensuring a secure and peaceful environment for all.
At the same time, Sierra Leone’s Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs, Patrick Gibrilla expressed the need for the active involvement of young people.
He pointed out that youth are paramount to sustaining peace, andhave always been seen as agent of change, that possesses the energy, especially when empowered and given opportunities for meaningful participation in peacebuilding efforts, and the development of their Sub-region, adding that they must be given a greater voice in the GOLA-REAP process.
The Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Liberia, Eddie S Massally recountedthe importance of involving Paramount Chiefs from both Countries in all meetings or exercises conducted by the Steering Committee to ensure community ownership and sustainability of outcomes.
Ambassador Massally further noted that Paramount Chiefs serve not only as traditional leaders but also as vital bridges between government policies and grassroots realities. He urged that their input be integrated early in project planning phases, arguing that strategies developed without the insights of these leaders risk being misunderstood or underimplemented at the community level.
Meanwhile the UN ResidentCoordinator in Sierra, Madam Sarafina Wakana emphasised the meeting’s significance in advancing peace and regional integration. She stated that, the GOLA-REAP initiative is not just about biodiversity conservation, but also about promoting sustainable livelihoods and ensuring peaceful coexistence between border communities.
Christian Mukosa, who represented the UN Resident Coordinator in Liberia explained that the Country-level discussions would further strengthen collaboration and enhance development cooperation between Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Ambassador Simeon Moribah, SecretaryGeneral of the Mano River Union, reaffirmed the Secretariat’s strong commitment to preserving the Gola Forest:
“The Gola Forest National Park is not only a shared heritage of Liberia and Sierra Leone, but also a crucial ecological bulwark for our region. We at MRU will support every effort to conserve this transboundary ecosystem protecting its biodiversity, preventing deforestation from illicit activities, and ensuring its sustainable use for future generations.”
He further emphasized that peace in the region is deeply linked to environmental stewardship. “Conservation is more thanprotecting trees and wildlife it is about securing livelihoods, fostering crossborder trust, and maintaining stability among communities that depend on this forest. A healthy natural environment contributes to peace, just as peace enables proper environmental management. The MRU stands ready to coordinate with member states, local communities, and international partners to turn those principles into action he ended.”
The GOLA-REAP Project is jointly implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the World Food Programme (WFP), in collaboration with the Government of Sierra Leone and Liberia. It also involved the Mano River Union Secretariat, Civil Society Organizations and national institutions including Sierra Leone’s National Protected Area Authority (NPPA) and the Liberia’s Forestry Development Authority (FDA).
