President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has appointed former Minister of Youth and Sports Cllr. Jerror Cole Bangalu as Executive Director of the Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC), as part of a broader effort to reposition the commission for a more strategic role in national security and migration management.
The decision, announced Wednesday by the Executive Mansion, reflects the President’s push to align the LRRRC with emerging national, regional, and global migration dynamics amid rising cross-border movements in the Mano River Basin and the wider West African sub-region.
According to the Presidency, the repositioning is intended to expand the commission’s traditional humanitarian mandate to include stronger coordination on refugee management, returnee reintegration, and migration trends that affect Liberia’s territorial integrity and security framework.
“With increasing regional migration pressures and porous borders in a changing global environment, Liberia requires an institutional response that goes beyond traditional humanitarian coordination,” the release stated.
Cllr. Bangalu’s appointment is expected to strengthen operational leadership at the LRRRC, improve inter-agency coordination, and ensure effective execution of the commission’s expanded responsibilities. President Boakai cited Bangalu’s legal background, administrative discipline, and public service experience as key assets for guiding the commission through what he described as a pivotal phase.
The President also thanked Bangalu for his service at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, where he previously served, and expressed confidence in his ability to lead the LRRRC into its new strategic role.
Kruah Nominated Youth Minister
In a related development, President Boakai has nominated Attorney Cornelia W. Kruah as Minister of Youth and Sports, replacing Bangalu. Her nomination, along with other presidential appointments, is subject to confirmation by the Liberian Senate.
Meanwhile, Hon. Jackson Paye has been appointed as a member of the Board of Directors of the Liberia Civil Aviation Authority (LCAA).
The Executive Mansion said the latest appointments underscore the administration’s efforts to recalibrate key institutions to respond more effectively to evolving national priorities.