Author: Julius Konton

By: Julius Konton President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has launched an ambitious drive to transform Liberia’s fisheries sector into a cornerstone of economic growth, calling on global investors and regional partners to tap into what he described as the country’s “sleeping giant.” Speaking at the opening of the National Fisheries Investment Conference, locally known as “Kpongama”—a Kpelle term meaning “The Gathering” the President outlined a sweeping reform agenda aimed at unlocking the vast potential of Liberia’s marine resources while creating jobs, boosting exports, and strengthening food security. The high-level conference, held at the Farmington Hotel, brought together ministers, international development partners,…

By: Julius Konton A new chapter in diaspora media leadership has begun as Cyrus Joel McGee, Chief Executive Officer of KMTV-USA, has been unanimously elected President of the Midwest Chapter of the Association of Liberian Journalists in the Americas (ALJA). The election, held during the chapter’s first official meeting of 2026 in Minneapolis, marks a significant leadership transition within one of the organization’s most influential regional bodies. ALJA serves as the principal umbrella organization representing both former and active Liberian journalists residing across the United States, playing a vital role in shaping diaspora media engagement and professional collaboration. A Strategic…

By: Julius Konton Liberia is positioning itself for a transformative shift in its diamond sector, as the country explores a transition from artisanal mining to industrial-scale production following the conclusion of a high-level review mission by the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS). The development comes amid growing investor interest, highlighted by a formal presentation from the Youssef Diamond Mining Company (YDMC), which is seeking a Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) to commence large-scale diamond mining operations in the West African nation. Investor Signals Confidence in Liberia’s Diamond Potential During the final phase of the Kimberley Process (KP) Review Visit, YDMC outlined…

By: Julius Konton In a significant move aimed at transforming governance systems across the continent, Liberia’s Civil Service Agency (CSA) has joined 12 other nations in endorsing the landmark Dakar Declaration on Public Administration Reform, signaling a renewed commitment to efficiency, transparency, and regional cooperation in Africa’s public sector. The declaration was adopted at a high-level, two-day sub-regional forum held from March 27–28, 2026, in Dakar. The gathering convened civil administrators, policymakers, and governance experts from across West Africa and beyond to confront longstanding structural challenges in public administration and chart a unified reform agenda. A CONTINENT AT A CROSSROADS:…

By : Julius Konton In a country where maternal and neonatal health remains a pressing concern, a local Christian organization is stepping in to provide support to vulnerable mothers, blending faith with humanitarian outreach. The religious group United for Christ has carried out a charitable initiative at the Liberia Japanese Maternity Friendship Hospital, one of the country’s key referral centers for maternal and child healthcare by donating essential baby supplies to new mothers in need. Addressing a Critical Health ChallengeLiberia continues to face significant maternal health challenges despite notable progress over the past two decades. According to data from the…

By: Julius Konton President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has issued one of his strongest warnings yet on the governance of Liberia’s vast natural resources, declaring that his administration will take decisive steps to protect the country’s mineral wealth amid mounting concerns over transparency, illicit extraction, and limited national benefit. Speaking at the Executive Mansion during the opening of the government’s third Cabinet Meeting of 2026, Boakai pledged a new era of accountability under the theme: “Positioning Liberia for Mineral-Led Development and National Prosperity.” Yet beneath the optimism lies a controversial admission Liberia may not fully know what is being extracted from…

By: Julius Konton In a striking display of national solidarity that transcends entrenched political divisions, prominent Liberian leaders have rallied around former Foreign Minister Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah Sr. following the death of his mother, Ma-Watta Kumba Soliyah Larmie. The wave of condolences cutting across party lines, government institutions, and religious communities has been widely described by analysts as a rare moment of unity in Liberia’s often polarized political landscape. Cross-Party Support Signals National Cohesion Leading the latest high-profile show of sympathy was Benoni Wilfred Urey, political leader of the All Liberian Party (ALP), who paid a solemn visit to Kemayah’s…

By: Julius Konton Liberia’s Finance and Development Planning Minister, Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan II, has issued a strong call for accountability, efficiency, and performance-driven reforms in the management of donor-funded projects, warning that failure directly undermines national development and burdens future generations with debt. Speaking at the 2026 Country Portfolio Performance Review (CPPR) Workshop, jointly organized by the Government of Liberia and the African Development Bank Group at the Mamba Point Hotel, Ngafuan emphasized that externally financed initiatives must be treated as national assets not foreign aid. “When these projects succeed, the Liberian people succeed. When they fail, the Liberian people…

By: Julius Konton President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr. has announced a new round of strategic appointments affecting key economic and energy institutions, reinforcing his administration’s commitment to strengthening governance, enhancing institutional performance, and advancing Liberia’s long-term development agenda. The latest appointments target the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) and the Liberia Petroleum Refinery Corporation (LPRC), two critical pillars in the country’s fiscal management and energy infrastructure. Strengthening Fiscal Leadership at MFDP In a move widely seen as pivotal to improving administrative efficiency, President Boakai has appointed Bennedict Harleyson as Deputy Minister for Administration at the Ministry of Finance…

By: Julius Konton In a historic leap for Liberia’s media and sports industries, Intel Sports, the country’s premier and exclusive sports production and broadcast company, has reached a new global milestone with the acquisition of its own satellite broadcast technology. According to the Chief Executive Officer of Intel Sports Liberia Besario Boakai, The move marks a transformative shift in Liberia’s capacity to produce and transmit live audiovisual content to international audiences placing the nation firmly on the global sports broadcasting map. At the center of this breakthrough is the deployment of a newly acquired high-capacity satellite aperture system, a sophisticated…