By: Akoi M. Baysah, Jr.
The drumbeat for new leadership in Lofa County District #5 grew louder over the weekend as prominent youth advocate and media entrepreneur James Papy Kwabo officially declared his intention to contest the district’s representative seat in the 2029 elections.Kwabo’s announcement, made in the historic town of Borkeza, marks the climax of a twelve-year community campaign urging him to step forward, a movement that began long before he ever dreamed of entering politics.
What was meant to be a simple birthday gathering turned into a defining political moment. Without fanfare, political T-shirts, or outside influence, residents converged in Borkeza and presented Kwabo with a remarkable demonstration of support: $236,000 Liberian Dollars, 150 kilos of clean rice, assorted farm produce, and symbolic gifts.
“This was not an ordinary birthday gesture,” Kwabo told the crowd it was a continuation of a message the people have been sending for more than a decade.”
He revealed that citizens first approached him in 2017, urging him to enter public service. The calls came again in 2023, but each time he declined, insisting he needed more preparation and lacked the financial strength for political engagement.
Since February, residents have been contributing monthly to a community-managed account, pooling their own limited resources in anticipation of a leadership transition in 2029.
Their consistent mobilization, he said, left no room for further hesitation. “A petition is meaningful only when it reflects true community desire,” Kwabo said.
“Our people have already petitioned, through their sacrifices, their contributions, and their unwavering belief in this vision.” “Honesty required that I act now”.
Amid questions about the timing of his declaration, Kwabo made his position clear: waiting any longer would have been dishonest.He explained that a staged petition ceremony, often a hallmark of Liberian politics, would not accurately represent the people’s long-standing commitment.
“I could not stand in Borkeza, the town where I was born and raised, and pretend the people had not already spoken,” he said. “They deserved clarity. They deserved respect.”
Kwabo, the owner of Alternative Youth Radio in Zorzor, has built a reputation as a champion for youth empowerment and local development initiatives. His popular mantra,“Not Too Young to Lead”, has become a rallying cry for many young people across the district.
With his declaration now public, political observers say the race for District #5 has officially shifted, opening the door for what many are calling a youth-driven movement with deep community roots.
The youth advocate and entrepreneur Kwabo, concluded his speech by acknowledging the magnitude of the moment: “This declaration is not about ambition,” he said. “It is about responsibility. It is about honoring the confidence of the people who have stood with me for twelve years.”
As he steps onto the political stage, the young broadcaster-turned-aspirant carries with him the hopes of a community that believes the future of Lofa County District #5 begins with one powerful truth
