Ganta, Nimba County – The National Lottery Authority (NLA) launched a touching food distribution program on Wednesday, March 18 at the Ganta Rehabilitation Center.
By D. Franklin Doloquee, Nimba County
In a gesture blending corporate responsibility with national celebration, NLA officials delivered 25 bags of rice, vegetable oil, ground beef and other essentials to residents living with disabilities, filling the air with gratitude and the scent of fresh provisions under a bright tropical sun.
The event marked the birthday of Vice President Jeremiah Koung, celebrated the previous day on March 17 and was a collaborative effort with the Office of the Second Lady.
It kicked off a year-long nationwide initiative to support disability communities, funded by the offices of Vice President Koung, Second Lady Stephanie Koung and the NLA, with backing from President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s Government.
Key Figures Lead the Charge Led by Helena Bobo-Dour, NLA’s Head of Social Corporate Welfare, alongside representatives from corporate social responsibility and lottery divisions, the distribution unfolded with heartfelt speeches and hands-on aid.
Also present were the NLA’s internal auditor, media director and staff joined by medical personnel from the rehab center.
Madam Bobo-Dour addressed the gathering, her voice resonating over the cheers of beneficiaries seated in colorful plastic chairs beneath shady mango trees.
“This launch, in partnership with the offices of Vice President Jeremiah Koung and Second Lady Stephanie Koung, and funded by President Boakai’s government, identifies with persons living with disabilities as the Vice President marks his birthday,” she said.
Extending warm felicitations to VP Koung, she also thanked President Boakai and the Second Lady.
“As our Vice President celebrates, we’re ensuring our beneficiaries persons with disabilities join in the festivity. This is just the start; we’ll visit other centers from our database to deliver aid throughout the year.”
Representing the Second Lady, Francis Calvin Sibley officially launched the program.
Known for her monthly Group 77 Charity Drives, the Second Lady’s office infused the event with a spirit of communal joy. “We’re sharing this token with the disability community,” Mr. Sibley stated.
“Vice President Koung oversees the NLA, so this collaboration lets everyone celebrate together, even if we can’t all dine at his residence.’’
“Gratitude and Appeals from the Rehab Center Dr. Marie Fonfana Yarsiah, Medical Director of the Ganta Rehabilitation Center a government facility serving dozens of residents with physical challenges in this rural yet populous region expressed deep appreciation on behalf of the administrator and executive director.’’
Surrounded by smiling beneficiaries clutching their aid packages, she invoked faith. “Little is much when God is in it.” She thanked the NLA, VP’s office, and Second Lady, but made a poignant appeal for sustainability.”
This center relies on donors and volunteers amid limited resources,” Dr. Yarsiah said, her tone earnest as she gestured to the modest buildings recently renovated with help from the Nimba County caucus and Superintendent Kou Meapea Gono.
“We beg the VP’s office to place our staff on government payroll and include us in the national budget even a modest US$10,000 would transform lives, providing consistent care, medications and therapies.’’
“Broader Impact and Future Plans Established to regulate Liberia’s gaming industry while promoting social good, the NLA’s move aligns with its core mission amid rising calls for expanded disability services in rural areas like Nimba, Liberia’s second-most populous county.’’
Officials emphasized transparency through the Regulatory Authority for Lotteries (NAL) and outlined plans to reach thousands more in 2026, targeting rehab centers, orphanages, and vulnerable groups nationwide.
Beneficiaries from across Nimba gathered, their faces lighting up with songs, prayers and cheers that turned the aid drop into a lively communal birthday tribute.
Elderly residents shared stories of hardship eased by the rice sacks, while younger ones marveled at the oil and beef staples often scarce in a region where agriculture and mining dominate but poverty persists.
Under President Boakai’s administration, which prioritizes inclusive governance, this initiative highlights the gaming sector’s potential to bridge gaps for persons with disabilities, who frequently face barriers to food, healthcare, and mobility in Liberia’s underserved east.
