The Managing Director of the Liberia Petroleum Refinery Company, Amos Tweh is calling for the Ministry of Youth and Sports to be separated from youth development issues and to exclusively be a ministry to coordinate the development of all sports issues in the country.
Tweh also proposed the establishment of the Liberia National Youth Commission with a mandate to oversee and design policy for youth capacity building and youth engagement in governance and national developments.
He made these proposals when he served as the keynote speaker for the program marking the 55th celebration of National Youth Day held in Gompa, Nimba County.
Tweh said establishing the National Youth Commission will ensure more focus on a synchronized approach to youth development while allowing the sports sector to strive independently.
He believes this dual approach will lead to better governance, increased youth participation, and more effective support of sports and youth development initiatives.
He argues that the proposal to establish the national youth commission aligns with best practices as several African countries including Ghana, Nigeria, and Gambia have already implemented such a commission to empower young people in their respective countries.
He then challenged young leaders to take responsibility for their personal growth, because leadership is having the courage to adopt and make decisions to their vision.
Tweh averred that youth are the leaders for today and the future and must be the driver of national development by embracing digital empowerment, turning challenges into opportunities and actively participating in national development which are essentials to building a stronger Liberia.
Youth and Sports Minister Cole Bangalu, concorded with the proposal by Director Tweh and said that there is already legislation to remove TVET from the Ministry of Youth and Sports to have a national TVET Commission.
Minister Bangalu said that there are three components in youth development which include At-Risk youth, Youth with disability, and youth in school but was quick to mention that FLY, LINSU, and MRYP were not representing these youth groups except for the elite youth.
Minister Bangalu, said he is in support of the establishment of the National Youth Commission and the detachment of sports to be a ministry to deal with sports initiatives in the country.
Delivering the proclamation on behalf of President Joseph Boakai, Assistant Minister of States for Presidential Affairs, George T. Marshal said the President describes the young people as the greatest national assets.
He said the President strongly emphasizes youth empowerment and youth development as a key priority to his government and the rescue agenda.
The National Youth Day was passed into law by the House of Representatives in 1969, to be celebrated on October 29 every year. This year’s program was celebrated under the theme: “Liberia Youth Acceding to Digital Transformation.”
