MONROVIA — The Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY), in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice, has trained 75 marketeers from 15 major markets across Montserrado and Margibi Counties as Market Peace Ambassadors.
By Patience M. Jones
The one-day intensive training, held on Friday, at the Smart Liberia Event Hall in Congo Town, was conducted under the theme: “Strengthening Community-Based Peace, Public Safety, and Access to Justice in Markets.”
The initiative forms part of FLY’s Market Peace Committee program, a component of a two-month project implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Justice aimed at reducing mob violence and promoting peaceful dispute resolution in communities and marketplaces.
Representing the Ministry of Justice, Gobah A. Anderson, Director of the Ministry’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Unit, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to community-based justice mechanisms and encouraged participants to become champions of peace in their respective markets.
Addressing participants, Anderson said the training would provide them with practical knowledge to resolve conflicts peacefully before they escalate into violence.
“You are in the right place today,” Anderson told participants. “By the time you leave here, you will become justice ambassadors and advocates who can help transform your communities through peaceful conflict resolution.”
Speaking in an interview, Abraham B. Kollie, FLY’s Region Two Coordinator, described the training as part of a broader collaboration between the Federation and the Ministry of Justice running from June 1 to July 30, 2026.
According to Kollie, the project, titled “Enhancing Access to Justice and Strengthening Community-Based Peace in Liberia,” focuses on four thematic areas, with one key component dedicated to addressing violence in marketplaces.
“We observed that marketplaces are among the places where mob violence frequently occurs,” Kollie explained. “As a result, we established Market Peace Committees and worked with market leadership across Montserrado and Margibi to identify five representatives from each of the 15 markets. Today, those 75 participants are being trained to serve as anti-mob violence campaigners and Market Peace Ambassadors.”
He noted that beyond the markets, the project also includes community dialogue sessions, where residents, youth leaders, and local authorities discuss the dangers of mob justice while identifying community representatives to promote peaceful conflict resolution.
Kollie emphasized that the knowledge gained during the training is expected to extend beyond the marketplaces.
“The education participants receive today will not remain in this hall,” he said. “They will take it back to their markets, communities, homes, and neighborhoods, helping to educate others, mediate disputes, and prevent conflicts from escalating into mob violence.”
The training featured presentations from experts in justice, mediation, and peacebuilding.
Atty. Prince Korvah of the Ministry of Justice delivered a presentation on the Rule of Law and Access to Justice, highlighting the importance of resolving disputes through legal channels rather than violence.
Dr. Anthony Lombeh Hena of the Kofi Annan Institute facilitated a session on Conflict Prevention, Mediation, and Peacebuilding, equipping participants with practical skills to identify early warning signs of conflict and intervene before situations become violent.
Meanwhile, Patrick F. Wee, Program Lead, outlined the roles and responsibilities of Market Peace Committees and Market Peace Ambassadors, stressing their responsibility to promote peaceful coexistence, mediate minor disputes, and strengthen collaboration between market communities and security institutions.
The training concluded with an action-planning session facilitated by Abdualli Bility, former FLY Vice President for International Affairs, where participants developed practical strategies to strengthen cooperation between Market Peace Committees, the Liberia National Police, and the Ministry of Justice.
Kollie disclosed that the current initiative is a pilot project, with plans to expand nationwide if successful.
“The outcomes of this project will determine its continuation,” he said. “Our vision is to reach all 15 counties of Liberia because the fight against mob justice is everyone’s responsibility. We want every young person and every Liberian to become an ambassador for peace.”
He further thanked the Ministry of Justice for partnering with the Federation and urged participants to apply the knowledge acquired during the training.
“It is about us as Liberians educating our people,” Kollie said. “If we all play our part, we can significantly reduce mob violence and build safer communities.”
At the close of the training, all 75 participants were officially commissioned as Market Peace Ambassadors, tasked with promoting peaceful dispute resolution, discouraging mob violence, and strengthening access to justice in their respective marketplaces across Montserrado and Margibi Counties
