Fish Town, Rivergee County — The Minister of Youth and Sports, Cornelia Wonkerleh Kruah, has promised to report the challenges facing youth in River Gee County to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai upon her return to Monrovia.
By J.H. Webster Clayeh [email protected]
Minister Kruah received a triumphant welcome in River Gee County as she continues her County tour.
She was taken to Killepo Kanweaken Township, Gbeapo Kanweaken and eventually to the county capital, Fish Town.
Addressing a gathering of a cross-section of young people, Minister Kruah praised the level of engagement, describing it as one of the most organized interactions since the start of her county tour. “To see that the young people of River Gee County have decided to speak with one voice it is good. It just make our work easy,” Minister Kruah said.
She emphasized that the concerns raised would help shape government action: “I believe that everything the young people of River Gee County have put on this table and when we take back to his excellency President Joseph Boakai, it is easy to drive the youth agenda here in River Gee County, he will listen.”
Minister Kruah noted that President Boakai relies on his ministers to engage citizens directly across the country.
She stressed the importance of firsthand interaction rather than making decisions from Montserrado County. “We don’t want to sit in Montserrado County and the call one River Gee County youth and say what can we do for the youths of River Gee County,” Minister Kruah said.
“We want to come to see the youth center that is not up to date, not having a rehabilitate center in River Gee County or the entire Southeast, we want to experience it, that disadvantaged youths or the at-risk youths who have lost hope, we want to interact with them. It make it easy to push your case to the President and I’m sure he will listen,” she added.
During her visit, the Minister toured several facilities, including Gbeapo Multilateral High School, the dilapidated youth center in Fish Town, the unfinished county sports stadium, River Gee Vocational and Technical Training Institute.
These visits allowed her to directly assess the conditions affecting young people in the county. Minister Kruah also announced 100 scholarships for River Gee County youths to pursue undergraduate studies at Tubman University and other institutions.
“River Gee County is awarded 100 scholarships for young people who want to go to school like Tubman University or other universities and acquire their undergraduate degree,” Minister Kruah said.
She cautioned against misuse of the opportunity, saying “These scholarships that have been awarded is not for you to take and go give it to River Gee County people living in Montserrado County. It is for the youth here in River Gee County.”
As part of the visit, Minister Kruah and her delegation were received by Alexander Poure, Representative for River Gee County District #1, who commended her initiative.
“To see the Youth and Sports Minister in our county to find our issues affecting the young people, we assure our fullest protection and cooperation. I’ll escort you (Minister Kruah) to Maryland and turn you over before I come back,” Rep. Poure said.
Meanwhile, Wicker Botoe, Youth President of Killepo Kanweaken Township, highlighted key challenges faced by the community. “This community is big we have two major challenges. Please help us with sewing machines. Also we have football field, we love it so much, it not in good condition we are kindly asking you to help us with grass cutting machines,” Botoe said.
