Liberia: Blissful Transformations President Urges Liberians Abroad to Contribute to Country’s Development

Monrovia — The Founder and President of Blissful Transformations, Mrs. Sierra Twum, has called on Liberians, both at home and abroad, as well as Americans of African descent, to actively contribute to Liberia’s development process. 

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By Selma Lomax [email protected]

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Mrs. Twum, who is currently pursuing a Doctoral Degree in Traumatology & Counselling at Liberty University in the U.S., emphasized that while the Government of Liberia holds the primary responsibility for the country’s development, the collective efforts of all Liberians, especially those living outside the country, are crucial to the nation’s progress.

Blissful Transformations, established in 2019, has been involved in humanitarian and developmental activities in Liberia. Notably, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization donated food, non-food items, and anti-COVID-19 materials to various groups, including teachers, market women, the disabled, and disadvantaged individuals across the country.

However, Mrs. Twum expressed disappointment in the perception held by many that Liberia’s development is solely the responsibility of the government. In presenting findings from her recent research, she highlighted several social problems, such as drug abuse among youth, child neglect, and the lack of access to quality education, all of which hinder the country’s development.

“Research on Liberia’s development, focusing on social issues, reveals the critical need for Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) to address these challenges. Government agents must work with private institutions to tackle the country’s development problems,” Mrs. Twum stated. 

She went on to mention her organization’s collaboration with the African Union Trading Company (AUTC) in conducting drug tests and providing treatment at rehabilitation centers in Liberia. Her research found that many of the country’s rehabilitation centers are substandard, with poor facilities and a lack of counseling or nutritional plans.

“Out of five rehabilitation centers we visited, only one met 30% of international standards,” Mrs. Twum noted. She called on the Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA) and the Ministry of Health (MOH) to establish a task force to monitor these centers.

Mrs. Twum also addressed issues in Liberia’s education system, which former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf had described as a “mess.” She pointed out the high dropout rates, largely due to increasing tuition fees, and noted that 95% of schools lack essential facilities, including libraries, qualified teachers, and labs for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) students. 

She urged the Ministry of Education (MOE) to enforce regular inspections of schools to ensure they meet standards and compliance. Furthermore, she advocated for increased emphasis on Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET), which she believes can empower the youth and provide them with sustainable livelihoods. She also called for the revision of TVET curricula to include Associate of Arts degrees in Health and Occupational Safety.

In addition to education, Mrs. Twum raised concerns about workplace safety, especially at concession sites, where the lack of proper health and safety equipment and poor working conditions have led to unreported deaths. She called on the Ministry of Labor to regularly monitor these industries to prevent further fatalities.

Mrs. Twum also highlighted the alarming rise in fire disasters across the country and urged support for effective intervention and strategies to reduce these incidents. She further pointed out the issue of road safety, noting that driver’s licenses are often issued without candidates undergoing road safety tests in accordance with international standards.

Mrs. Twum reaffirmed Blissful Transformations’ commitment to contributing to Liberia’s development, particularly in addressing drug abuse and other social issues. She urged Liberians abroad and Americans of African descent to focus their developmental initiatives on Liberia, emphasizing that the country’s progress will require the concerted efforts of all stakeholders.

“Liberia will only develop if we all work together to confront the challenges that stand in our way,” Mrs. Twum concluded.