By: Julius Konton
foreign-service professional Pawa Janyan has announced his promotion to the position of Principal Deputy Chief of Protocol of the Republic of Liberia, marking a significant advancement in a career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that began more than a decade ago.
Janyan announced the appointment in a statement expressing gratitude for the opportunity and reaffirming his commitment to public service.
He described the promotion as an important new chapter in his professional journey, while emphasizing that his core values of service, humility, professionalism, excellence and dedication would remain unchanged.
His career at the Ministry dates back to 2012, when he joined the institution as a Secretary.
He was subsequently promoted to Technical Assistant in 2014 and Administrative Officer in 2018, before assuming his latest responsibility.
The progression represents approximately 14 years of service within Liberia’s foreign-affairs establishment and reflects a career path that has taken him through several administrative and professional levels.
Janyan credited Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti, the leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and particularly Ambassador Antoinette M. Wolo, Chief of Protocol of the Republic of Liberia, whom he identified as a mentor and supervisor, for contributing to his professional development.
He also expressed appreciation to colleagues, mentors, family members and friends for their support and encouragement throughout her career.
The appointment comes within a diplomatic institution with a long history of developing Liberia’s professional foreign service.
The Ministry’s Foreign Service Institute traces its origins to Liberia’s post-independence effort to strengthen the role of Liberian professionals in representing the country abroad.
The government enacted legislation establishing the Foreign Service Institute in 1946, while the institution’s early development was associated with President William V. S. Tubman’s policy of “Liberianization” of the diplomatic service.
Protocol remains an important component of Liberia’s diplomatic machinery, encompassing the formal conduct of state ceremonies, diplomatic engagements, official visits, credentials presentations, precedence, etiquette and interaction with members of the diplomatic and consular corps.
Ministry records show that protocol personnel have historically played a central role in major state and diplomatic occasions, including the presentation of ambassadors’ letters of credence.
The Ministry has also invested in professional protocol training.
In one major training initiative, 58 government protocol officers received instruction in areas including protocol, etiquette, information, security and public diplomacy.
The Foreign Ministry has described such training as part of efforts to strengthen the professionalism and effectiveness of protocol personnel across government.
Janyan’s new position also places him within a protocol structure that has evolved over the years.
In 2015, the Foreign Ministry appointed Antoinette Wolo as Deputy Chief of Protocol, following her earlier service as a protocol officer and after joining the Ministry in 2008 as a Research Analyst.
Ministry records at the time highlighted her administrative, coordination and diplomatic-support responsibilities within the Protocol Bureau.
For Janyan, the latest promotion represents both professional advancement and a renewed obligation to serve the Liberian state.
In announcing the milestone, he pledged to approach the new assignment with professionalism, integrity, diligence and a strong sense of duty to the Republic of Liberia.
“The assignment may be new, but the commitment remains the same: service, humility, excellence, and dedication,” Janyan said in his message, while giving credit to God for what he described as continued favor, grace and guidance.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is currently led by Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti, with the ministry’s official leadership structure including the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Minister for Administration, Deputy Minister for Legal Affairs and Deputy Minister for International Cooperation and Economic Integration.
As Liberia continues to engage governments, international organizations and diplomatic missions around the world, protocol officers remain part of the institutional framework supporting high-level state and diplomatic engagements.
Janyan’s promotion therefore adds another chapter to his own professional journey while placing him in a role connected to the formal representation and diplomatic functions of the Liberian state.
For Janyan, however, the elevation is less about the title than the responsibility that comes with it.
His message to colleagues and supporters was clear: after more than a decade of progression within the Foreign Ministry, he intends to continue serving with humility, discipline and dedication.
“To God be the glory for His continued favor, grace, and guidance. The work continues.”
