Liberia: Rep. Fahnbulleh Hails Pres. Boakai’s Support After Talks on Bong’s District Seven Development Priorities

MONROVIA — Bong County District Seven Representative Foday Fahnbulleh has expressed excitement following a meeting Tuesday with President Joseph Nyuma Boakai at the Executive Mansion.

By Selma Lomax, [email protected]

Rep. Fahnbulleh said the meeting provided him an opportunity to engage the President directly on issues he considers critical to the welfare of residents, particularly the participation of local contractors in development activities, the impact of concession operations on host communities and the need to protect the interests of citizens living in areas where major economic activities are taking place.

The lawmaker described the discussion as frank and productive, stressing that he went into the meeting with the concerns of his constituents at the center of his engagement with the President.

According to Rep. Fahnbulleh, one of the major issues he placed before President Boakai was the situation confronting local contractors in Fuamah and Sanoyea, where he said Liberian businesses should have greater opportunities to participate in development activities.

He argued that the presence of concessionaires and major development projects should result in opportunities for local businesses rather than leaving communities and Liberian entrepreneurs on the sidelines.

For Rep. Fahnbulleh, the question of local participation is directly connected to whether communities hosting major economic activities are actually benefiting from the resources and investments taking place within their areas.

He told the President that development must go beyond infrastructure and investment figures and translate into practical economic benefits for ordinary Liberians, including employment, business opportunities and improved livelihoods.

The Bong lawmaker also raised concerns about the relationship between concession operations and host communities, emphasizing the need for citizens’ rights to be protected while ensuring that communities receive meaningful benefits from activities carried out on their land and within their areas.

Rep. Fahnbulleh said he was encouraged by President Boakai’s response to the concerns, particularly the President’s acknowledgment of the issues raised and his stated willingness to support efforts aimed at protecting the rights and interests of affected communities.

The response, according to the representative, gave him renewed confidence that the concerns of Fuamah and Sanoyea could receive greater attention through continued engagement with the Executive Branch.

The meeting also provided an opportunity for Rep. Fahnbulleh to discuss an initiative he considers particularly important to the future of Bong County’s young population — the recently passed Bong Mines Vocational Training Institute Act.

The legislation, which was passed by the House of Representatives, seeks to establish a vocational training institution designed to provide young people with practical and marketable skills that can improve their chances of securing employment and becoming economically independent.

Rep. Fahnbulleh said he was particularly pleased with President Boakai’s expressed support for the initiative, describing the President’s position as an encouraging development for the county and its young people.

He said the President commended Bong County lawmakers for demonstrating leadership by supporting legislation intended to address the needs of citizens and complement the administration’s broader development agenda.

The representative said the President’s support was significant because the vocational training initiative could provide a direct response to the challenges of youth unemployment and the shortage of skilled workers.

Rep. Fahnbulleh believes the proposed institution could eventually help create a pool of trained Liberians capable of taking advantage of employment opportunities generated by mining, construction, agriculture, infrastructure and other economic activities.

He said the initiative could also create an avenue through which young people could acquire skills for self-employment, rather than depending exclusively on limited formal-sector jobs.

The lawmaker’s excitement following the meeting appeared to be tied not only to the President’s support for the vocational training legislation but also to what he described as a willingness by the Executive to work with Bong County lawmakers in addressing the concerns of their constituents.

Rep. Fahnbulleh said lawmakers have a responsibility to maintain direct communication with the Executive while remaining committed to representing the interests of their people.

He stressed that elected representatives must continue to raise citizens’ concerns, demand accountability and work with the government whenever such collaboration can produce concrete benefits for their constituents.

The District Seven representative said his engagement with President Boakai demonstrated the importance of constructive dialogue between the Legislature and Executive, particularly when national development policies intersect with local concerns.

He said he welcomed the President’s commitment to working with lawmakers and viewed the meeting as an opportunity to strengthen collaboration around development initiatives affecting Bong County.

Fahnbulleh also emphasized that his advocacy for local contractors is part of a broader effort to ensure that Liberians benefit directly from economic activities taking place in their communities.

He said local businesses should not merely observe development projects from the sidelines but should be positioned to participate in contracts, supply chains and other opportunities created by government and concession investments.

The lawmaker further maintained that host communities should have a meaningful stake in development taking place within their jurisdictions.

His position reflects a broader concern among communities across Liberia over the distribution of benefits associated with concession agreements and large-scale investments, particularly where local residents expect employment, contracts, infrastructure and other economic opportunities in return for hosting such operations.

Fahnbulleh said the concerns he presented to President Boakai were therefore aimed at ensuring that development reaches the grassroots and that communities such as those in Fuamah and Sanoyea are not excluded from the economic opportunities generated within their own areas.

He expressed optimism that the President’s acknowledgment of the concerns and support for the vocational training initiative could lead to further engagement and concrete action.

The lawmaker said he remains committed to working with the administration while continuing to serve as an advocate for the people of District Seven and the wider Bong County.

For Fahnbulleh, the meeting represented more than a routine engagement between a lawmaker and the President. He said it offered an opportunity to place local concerns directly before the national leadership and secure commitments around issues affecting communities, businesses and young people.

He welcomed what he described as the President’s readiness to partner with Bong County lawmakers, saying such cooperation could help advance development priorities while ensuring that the voices of local communities remain part of national decision-making.

Rep. Fahnbulleh said he left the engagement encouraged by the President’s response and determined to continue pushing for initiatives that create opportunities for young people, strengthen local businesses, protect citizens’ rights and ensure that development produces tangible benefits for the people of Bong County.

He said his commitment remains to keep the concerns of Fuamah, Sanoyea and the wider county at the center of his legislative advocacy while working with the Executive to turn those concerns into meaningful development outcomes.