MONROVIA – The Revolutionary National Youth League (RNYL) of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) has issued a statement criticizing the Ministry of Youth and Sports under Minister Cornelia Wonkerleh Kruah, claiming that the Ministry has drifted from its statutory mandate and neglected the urgent needs of Liberia’s youth. In a press release dated February 20, 2026, the Youth League highlighted what it described as “alarming missteps” in the Ministry’s early actions under the Unity Party-led government of President Joseph N. Boakai and Vice President Jeremiah K. Koung.
The Youth League’s statement opened with solidarity to “all unemployed and vulnerable young people who continue to suffer under the Unity Party worsening economic hardship and rising youth unemployment, which the World Bank couldn’t have said it any better.” They sharply criticized Minister Wonkerleh Kruah for inviting political party youth leaders to a social gathering at Bella Casa, which the League says is “marked with greed, lack of patriotism, and desperation for power.” According to the release, the venue itself is tainted by past abuses, including child molestation and sex trafficking, incidents the statement claims implicate the Minister as a “co-conspirator.”
RNYL condemned the gathering as irrelevant to the Ministry’s statutory mandate, writing, “Such a meeting bears no direct relationship to the Ministry’s statutory obligations. This decisive misstep is not merely an administrative blunder; it sends a message of a deeper governance and moral crisis that demands immediate attention.” The League insists that the Ministry’s core responsibilities include youth employment, skills development, grassroots sports advancement, and technical and vocational education and training (TVET).
The Youth League pointed to glaring unfulfilled promises under the Unity Party administration. “Within less than a week in office, the Minister appears to have overlooked the urgent need to address neglected programs and unfulfilled promises made to Liberia’s youth,” the press release stated. Citing World Bank reports, RNYL noted that approximately 70% of young Liberians are classified as NEET, Not in Education, Employment, or Training, under the current government, while drug abuse and mental health challenges among youth are escalating.
Highlighting specific failures, the RNYL outlined unfulfilled programs and initiatives. The promised digital skills training for 10,000 youth by mid-2024 remains unrealized. According to the League, this neglect leaves young people “unprepared for emerging opportunities,” undermining Liberia’s capacity to build a skilled workforce in the ICT sector.
The League also criticized the stalled National Youth Service Program and TVET Commission, designed to prepare young Liberians for leadership and employment. “These initiatives have stalled, depriving young Liberians of critical opportunities for growth. The Minister must focus on her statutory mandate and do her JOB,” the statement read, in blunt capitalization for emphasis.
RNYL further highlighted a collapsed $25 million STEM and Artificial Intelligence scholarship program in the United States, initially announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, claiming fraud involving NEKOTECH prevented any Liberian youth from benefiting. The press release demanded urgent accountability, stating, “Not one student benefited. Accountability is urgently required, and someone must be held accountable for the act of corruption displayed.”
Substance abuse rehabilitation programs also came under fire. The League cited President Boakai’s 2024 State of the Nation Address pledge to “spare no resource” in addressing Liberia’s drug epidemic and rehabilitating affected youth, calling the lack of clear policy direction a “failure that leaves vulnerable youth without adequate support services.” Rising cases of substance abuse, RNYL argued, are evidence of governmental neglect.
The statement described the Minister’s invitation to an entertainment event as “an insult to our future,” noting that young Liberians struggle to pay school fees, rent, and provide for their families. “Young Liberians do not seek entertainment; they demand meaningful opportunities, employment, and sustainable solutions to their challenges,” RNYL stressed. The press release urged the government to return focus to its statutory mandate and prioritize youth empowerment programs such as the National Cadet Program, At-Risk Youth Empowerment Program, and the Temporary Employment for Community Youth (TECY) Program.
In conclusion, the Revolutionary National Youth League reaffirmed its commitment to advocacy for young Liberians. “The government has continuously ignored the voices and needs of young people; it is time that it bears full responsibility for her arrogance. The time for reform is now. Mr. Joseph N. Boakai must be accountable for the promises made to Liberia’s youth,” the release concluded. Signed by Emmanuel M. Johnson, Chairman of the RNYL, the statement underscores the League’s determination to hold the Ministry accountable for meaningful action rather than symbolic gestures.
