Latest news with #Liberia
Zawya
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Zawya
President Boakai Declares Saturday, July 26, 2025, As 178 Independence Day
The President of the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr., has by Proclamation declared Saturday, July 26, 2025 as Independence Day and is to be observed throughout the Republic as a National Holiday. According to a Foreign Ministry release, the Proclamation calls on all citizens and foreign residents within the territorial confines of Liberia to observe the Day as such; the release further orders government offices and business houses closed during the observance from 6:00 ante meridian to 6:00 post meridian. The Proclamation requests all citizens, in solemn cooperation with all Prelates, Priests, Deacons, Evangelists, Imams and Elders as well as other members of the Sacerdotal order, regardless of religious creed, to gather together in their respective places of worship in each city, town, village, home, especially in Monrovia, Montserrado County, on Sunday, July 20, 2025 and Friday, July 25, 2025, in observance of the day. The Presidential proclamation also requests citizens of Liberia to offer thanks and praises to God for His blessings showered upon us in past and present times and beseech Him for His continuing goodness and beneficence towards all peoples and nations of the earth, especially, the people of the Republic of Liberia. According to the Proclamation, it is in grateful recognition of the blessings and miraculous deliverances which the Almighty God has extended to us as a Nation and People, although we have been most unworthy of them, to give thanks, adoration and praise unto Him for saving the State and to commemorate the brave and timely Decision of our forbearers on July 26, 1847. The Proclamation is in consonant with the 'Patriotic and Culture Observances Law' title 26, Liberia Code of Law of 1956, which set aside the 26th day of July of each year as a National Holiday to be known as Independence Day and appropriately celebrated as such. The Proclamation further recounted that after due deliberation on the future of the ' Settlement' facing colonial challenges and threats, the Founding Fathers did publish to the World that historic and immortal instrument known as the DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, by which the Commonwealth of Liberia became, and was presented to the comity of nations, as a free, sovereign and independent State thereby warding off encroachment from any colonial power and becoming the first independent African Republic. According to the proclamation, the official Festive Celebration in observance of the Day will be held at the Centennial Memorial Pavilion, Ashmun Street, Monrovia, Montserrado County; commencing at eleven o' clock ante meridian; under the theme: 'One People, One Destiny: healing the past, Building the Future' 'In His infinite goodness and mercy, God has blessed and prospered the work of the minds, hearts, and hands of all the people of the Republic of Liberia from July 1847 when this nation was declared a free, sovereign and independence state; and from thenceforth, through the years of our national existence, manifold and varied have been the experiences of the nation and its people, who through it all have been able to forge their way by dint of perseverance, devotion and courage.', the Proclamation declares. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Liberia.
Zawya
20 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
Hope for Liberia's youth as country pioneers African Development Bank-financed Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank
Program will turn job seekers into job creators – Liberian President Boakai The future of Liberia's youth cannot be left to hustling – Dr. Adesina Liberia has become the first country to launch an African Development Bank Group initiative ( that will help tackle youth unemployment among African youth. President of the Republic of Liberia, Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr was joined in the capital Monrovia by the Bank Group's President, Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina for the official launch of the first Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank (YEIB) ( on Tuesday 22 July. The Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Banks will promote private sector-led inclusive economic development, by creating entrepreneurship opportunities for young Africans aged 18-35. According to the Bank's Country Focus Report 2025 ( for Liberia, underemployment and informal employment have long undermined the country's ability to harness a key demographic strength. To address these challenges, Liberia's Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank is expected to finance 30,000 youth-led businesses, create 120,000 direct and indirect jobs, contribute $80 million to government revenues through taxes, and unlock up to $500 million in additional lending to youth-owned businesses across the country. The Youth Bank is being jointly financed by the African Development Fund—the concessional lending arm of the African Development Bank Group ($15.9 million)—and the Government of Liberia ($1.2 million in in-kind contributions). "[The YEIB] speaks directly to the heart of our future because over sixty percent of our population is under the age of thirty. This program gives hope to our young people by turning them from job seekers into job creators,' said President Boakai. 'It will provide financing, mentorship, and the skills they need to succeed in agriculture, technology, the knowledge based economy, and other emerging sectors.' 'Liberia must not watch as its best assets—its youth—falter,' Adesina said. 'The future of Liberia's youth cannot be left to 'hustling.'' He added that with recruitment ongoing, and licensing expected to be completed shortly, the Liberian YEIB is scheduled to commence operations in early 2026, with a focus on 'critical sectors with immense opportunities for the youth, including agriculture, value addition with agribusiness, digital services, mining and tourism.' Youth entrepreneurship banks have also been approved for Nigeria ( Ethiopia ( and Cote d'Ivoire ( representing a growing commitment to enhancing private sector development through improved financing for entrepreneurs, on a continent where three-quarters of the population are below the age of 35. The Bank has since 1967 invested more than $1.02 billion in 72 projects in Liberia, and as of February 2024, it had an active portfolio of 18 sovereign operations worth $314.77 million, focusing primarily on transport infrastructure, energy development ( and agricultural transformation. These investments include the Mano River Union road network ( connecting Liberia with neighbouring countries, regional power interconnection initiatives, and programs supporting smallholder farmers across the country. The Bank's operations in Liberia are funded through multiple sources, with the African Development Fund—the concessional lending arm of the Bank Group—providing most of the financing, supplemented by the Transition Support Facility ( and various specialized funds including the Nigeria Trust Fund ( Read President Boakai's speech at the YEIB launch here ( Read Dr. Adesina's speech here ( Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB). Media Contacts: Natalie Nkembuh and Tolu Ogunlesi Communication and Media Relations Department media@ About the African Development Bank Group: The African Development Bank Group is Africa's leading development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). Represented in 41 African countries, with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and social progress of its 54 regional member countries. For more information:
Zawya
2 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Ambassador Yin Chengwu attended Liberia Technology Summit 2025
On July 21, Ambassador Yin Chengwu attended the Liberia Technology Summit 2025 and delivered a speech. The event was also attended by Hon. Haja Mamaka Bility, Acting Minister of States, Hon. Augustine K. Ngafuan, Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Hon. Sekou M. Kromah, Minister of Post and Telecommunications. Representatives from relevant UN agencies and diplomatic missions in Liberia. Yin highlighted the outcomes of the Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators on the Implementation of the Follow-up Actions of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and China's achievements in science and technology. He pointed out that China will establish a global scientific research fund and increase science and technology assistance to developing countries, making technological progress benefits all humanity. He expressed China is willing to strengthen scientific and technological innovation cooperation with Liberia, so as to make it a new engine of China-Liberia strategic partnership. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of Liberia.
Zawya
2 days ago
- Politics
- Zawya
President Boakai Launches Passport Centers in Bong and Grand Gedeh Counties
In a landmark move to bring government services closer to the people, His Excellency President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. has officially launched the decentralization of passport services in Bong and Grand Gedeh Counties. On Monday, July 21, 2025, President Boakai inaugurated the new Passport Application Center in Gbarnga, Bong County. This launch marks a significant milestone in the Boakai Administration's commitment to good governance, regional inclusion, and equitable access to public services. The initiative is a central feature of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' National Passport Decentralization Program, which aims to decongest the central passport bureau in Monrovia and reduce the travel burden on Liberians residing in remote areas. President Boakai underscored the importance of the initiative, stating that the new centers will serve the needs of Liberia's leeward counties and bring critical services closer to the people. While Liberia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Sara Beysolow Nyanti, simultaneously unveiled the Passport Hub in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County on behalf of President Boakai. 'In Zwedru, we proudly unveiled our new passport hub as part of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai's launch of the National Passport Decentralization Initiative,' said Foreign Minister Nyanti. 'This is more than a building it is a promise delivered. Citizens of Grand Gedeh and surrounding counties will no longer need to endure long journeys and extended wait times to access their constitutional right to travel.' Foreign Minister Nyanti emphasized the government's commitment to expanding passport services to additional regions in the near future. 'We are determined to ensure that no Liberian is left behind, regardless of geography,' she affirmed. The Zwedru center features state-of-the-art biometric equipment and is directly connected to the Ministry's central database in Monrovia, ensuring secure, efficient, and timely processing of passport applications. The launch reflects the government's ongoing investment in digital transformation and the modernization of public service delivery. The Bong and Grand Gedeh centers are the first of several regional passport hubs to be rolled out under this decentralization initiative. Their launch is part of the official calendar of events celebrating Liberia's 178th Independence Day, underscoring the government's focus on tangible service delivery and national renewal. Local leaders, traditional authorities, youth organizations, and citizens gathered in large numbers in Zwedru to witness the occasion. Many expressed gratitude to President Boakai and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for fulfilling a long-standing regional need for accessible identification services. The Passport Decentralization Initiative is spearheaded by Foreign Minister Nyanti in collaboration with regional and local authorities and exemplifies the government's broader vision for decentralized development and inclusive governance. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Liberia.
Zawya
3 days ago
- Politics
- Zawya
Liberia: President Boakai Hails the Kingdom of Belgium on its National Day Observance
The President of the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has sent a congratulatory message to His Majesty King Philippe, King of the Kingdom of Belgium on the occasion of Belgium's National Day on July 21, 2025. According to a Foreign Ministry release, President Boakai, on behalf of the Republic of Liberia and in his own name, extended warmest congratulations and best wishes to the Kingdom of Belgium as they commemorate their National Day. The Liberian leader indicated that the occasion provides an opportunity to celebrate the enduring values of unity, democracy and prosperity that Belgium has long upheld. He noted that his government cherishes the long-lasting bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two nations which is built on mutual respect and shared aspirations for peace, development and global solidarity. President Boakai stressed that as the Belgian people mark this important day, Liberia joins in honoring their rich history, cultural heritage and remarkable achievements. 'May the future bring continued progress, united, and the well-being to your nation and people', the Liberia President stated. He then extended best wishes for His Majesty personal well-being, and for the people of Belgium sustained prosperity. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Liberia.
