Author: Julius Konton

By: Julius Konton The Director General of the Civil Service Agency (CSA), Dr. Josiah F. Joekai Jr., has publicly addressed a tense confrontation involving employees of the Ministry of Transport (Liberia), describing the incident as “unfortunate and unacceptable,” while acknowledging the frustrations of civil servants caught in the midst of ongoing public sector reforms. Dr. Joekai spoke for the first time following the incident during the regular press briefing hosted by the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (Liberia) in Monrovia, where he recounted the moment when a group of ministry employees booed and openly protested during his recent…

By: Julius Konton The Government of Liberia has reaffirmed its commitment to workforce protection and institutional strengthening as it implements a major restructuring of the country’s traffic management system, a reform officials say is essential for modernizing the transport sector and improving national revenue administration. Speaking amid public discussion surrounding the reform, Josiah F. Joekai Jr., Director General of the Civil Service Agency (CSA), clarified that no verified civil servant will lose employment as a result of the transition to the Liberia Traffic Management Incorporated (LTMI) framework. The reform, undertaken in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport, represents one of…

By: Julius Konton The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) has officially launched a far-reaching Five-Year Strategic Plan (2026–2030), outlining sweeping reforms aimed at strengthening public financial management, improving debt sustainability, expanding domestic revenue mobilization, and accelerating Liberia’s long-delayed economic transformation. The plan was unveiled at a high-level ceremony in Monrovia, with Liberia’s development partners, senior government officials, diplomats, and technocrats in attendance. The launch comes at a critical juncture for Liberia, a country still grappling with post-conflict recovery challenges, fiscal fragility, and structural economic vulnerabilities. A Symbol of Partnership and Credibility Speaking at the event, Finance and Development…

By: Julius Konton A long-simmering national debate over religious equality, constitutional silence, and political symbolism has resurfaced sharply in Liberia, as Muslim leaders once again press the government to recognize an exclusive Muslim public holiday, a demand that exposes deeper questions about state neutrality, religious dominance, and post-war inclusivity in Africa’s oldest republic. The renewed call came during the official launch of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s Ramadan food distribution exercise, where Liberia’s Chief Imam, Ali Krayee, publicly reminded the presidency that material gestures cannot substitute for institutional recognition. “We have said it over and over again. At some point, we…

By: Julius Konton At a time when churches across the world are grappling with internal divisions, social polarization, and shifting cultural landscapes, Samuel J. Quire Jr., a senior leader of the United Methodist Church in West Africa, has issued a clarion call for renewed unity, urging believers to make love not conflict the defining mark of Christian witness. Speaking at the opening of the 146th Annual Session of the Sierra Leone Annual Conference, Bishop Quire reminded delegates that unity is not optional but central to the Church’s identity and mission. Addressing hundreds of clergy and lay representatives gathered in Freetown,…

By: Julius Konton The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), in partnership with the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, has convened a high-level Root Cause Analysis (RCA) Workshop focused on Liberia’s energy sector, marking a critical step toward shaping the country’s second MCC development compact. Held in Gompa, Nimba County, the multi-day workshop brings together representatives from key line ministries, the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC), energy regulators, private-sector investors, development partners, and civil society organizations. It is the second RCA workshop under Liberia’s renewed engagement with MCC and is widely viewed as a pivotal moment in addressing what economists describe as…

By: Julius Konton In a renewed push to curb Liberia’s persistently high maternal mortality rate, a Boston-based medical collaboration has trained 30 anesthesia providers in advanced obstetrical anesthesia, strengthening the country’s capacity to deliver safer childbirth services. The intensive training was conducted Tuesday at John F. Kennedy Medical Center by the Boston-Africa Anesthesia and Critical Care Collaborative, a long-standing partner in Liberia’s health sector. The initiative forms part of broader efforts to improve maternal health outcomes in a country where complications during pregnancy and childbirth remain among the leading causes of death for women of reproductive age. According to international…

By: Julius Konton Liberia’s government has renewed its call for deeper transparency, predictable financing, and genuine partnership with development partners, as official data show that aid disbursements have outpaced commitments over the past two fiscal years, a rare but complex trend in international development cooperation. The renewed push was underscored during a one-day Aid Coordination Conference convened by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, bringing together senior government officials, donors, and development partners to assess aid effectiveness and recalibrate cooperation frameworks. Three Pillars of the New Aid Compact Opening the conference, Deputy Minister for Fiscal Affairs Andrew G. Myers…

By: Julius Konton The Kingdom of Belgium has reaffirmed its clear and consistent support for the Autonomy Initiative proposed by the Kingdom of Morocco, describing it as “the most adequate, serious, credible, and realistic basis” for achieving a fair, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution to the long-standing regional dispute over the Sahara. The position was formally articulated on Monday in Rabat by Maxime Prévot, Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs, and Foreign Trade, following high-level talks with Nasser Bourita, Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates. Anchored in Diplomacy and International…

By: Julius Konton Liberia has taken a decisive step toward addressing child hunger and learning inequality, as the government formally elevates school feeding to a core pillar of its national education and social protection agenda. Education Minister Dr. Jarso M. Jallah has disclosed that the school feeding program is now a top government priority, citing widespread food insecurity and its direct impact on children’s ability to learn, remain in school, and complete basic education. “A child cannot learn on an empty stomach,” Dr. Jallah emphasized, underscoring a reality faced by thousands of Liberian households where poverty and food shortages continue…