Africa-Press – Liberia. The launch event, held at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, brought together senior government officials. L-R: Deputy information Minister Daniel Sando, Public Works Minister Gibson, Monrovia City Mayor Roland Lafayette Giddings, Monrovia City Mayor John-Charuk Siafi, Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah, Foreign Minister Sara Nyanti-Beysolow and LTA Chairperson Abdullah Kamara.
The Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT), on Wednesday, May 7, officially launched the “Government Town Hall Initiative — is a nationwide public engagement forum designed to strengthen dialogue between government officials and citizens across all 15 counties.
The initiative, named Kapaa Kulono — a phrase in the Kpelle dialect meaning “Come Let’s Talk It” — aims to bring governance closer to the people through face-to-face discussions on key national and local issues.
Foreign Affairs Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti, who served as Chief Launcher and delivered the keynote address, welcomed the initiative as an important step toward inclusive governance and civic education.
“Kapaa Kulono is not just about listening; it’s about sharing, educating, and involving everyone. This is not top-down government—it’s government in every direction,” she said.
Also speaking at the event, European Union Ambassador to Liberia, Nona Deprez, praised the initiative for promoting civic participation and accountability.
“It is an opportunity for citizens to engage in dialogue, to be informed, and to hold their government accountable,” she said. “The more informed people are, the better they can contribute to shaping their country’s future.”
The launch event, held at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, brought together senior government officials, traditional and religious leaders, youth groups, and members of the diplomatic corps.
Information Minister Jerolinmek Matthew Piah described the initiative as “a new dawn” in how the Boakai-led administration intends to engage the public.
“In today’s evolving world, people want to sit with their leaders, hear directly from them, and get answers to the issues they care about,” Minister Piah said. “This initiative brings government actors and policymakers into direct contact with the people.”
He emphasized that the forum would include diverse segments of society such as women’s groups, youth organizations, political party representatives, traditional authorities, civil society groups, informal workers like yana boys and pem pem riders, as well as students and religious figures.
Minister Piah noted that while the launch began in Monrovia, the initiative will be taken to towns and villages across Liberia — not just county capitals — to ensure inclusivity and broad reach.
“This is not just a one-off event. It will continue as part of Liberia’s national communication and development outreach strategy,” he said. He called on development partners and international NGOs to support and sustain the program.
The minister also acknowledged the support of key government institutions — including the Central Bank of Liberia, Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC), Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), and the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) — for helping to kickstart the project, which currently has no dedicated budget.
The Government Town Hall Initiative is expected to be a vital platform for transparency, accountability, and participatory governance in Liberia.
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