Monrovia — More than 1,000 young Liberians are expected to converge in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County on July 25 for the third edition of the President’s Town Hall Meeting, a major youth engagement forum aimed at strengthening dialogue between President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and young people across the country.
By Patience M. Jones, [email protected]
The event, organized by the President’s Youth Advisory Council (PYAC) as part of Liberia’s 179th Independence Day Celebrations, will bring together youth delegates from all 15 counties alongside development partners, civil society organizations, entrepreneurs, student leaders, media practitioners, sports representatives, youth wings of political parties and other key stakeholders.
Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, July 20, PYAC Chairman, Mandela S. Gbollie, described the gathering as more than a ceremonial engagement with the President.
“This is beyond just a town hall meeting with the President. It is a policy forum where young people will have the opportunity to present their concerns directly to the President, make recommendations and in some cases, receive immediate decisions that can positively impact their lives,” Mr. Gbollie said.
According to him, approximately 250 delegates will participate in the interactive dialogue with President Boakai, while overall attendance is expected to exceed 1,000 participants. The event will also be streamed live on digital platforms and broadcast by local media to ensure nationwide participation.
Mr. Gbollie emphasized that delegates will be selected through an online application process based strictly on merit, rather than political affiliation, ethnicity or other considerations.
“We are committed to making this process transparent, inclusive, and non-partisan. This is governance, not politics. Young people from agriculture, sports, media, entrepreneurship, civil society, education and political organizations will all have an opportunity to participate,” he stated.
To encourage broad participation, PYAC will provide transportation and meals for selected delegates, including participants traveling from Montserrado County, while additional delegates will journey from counties across Liberia.
This year’s Town Hall places a strong focus on entrepreneurship and youth economic empowerment, reflecting the government’s efforts to promote job creation and support young entrepreneurs.
Participants representing agriculture, sports, education, media and other sectors will also present recommendations on issues affecting their respective fields.
Mr. Gbollie noted that organizers have intentionally limited the participation of political figures to ensure young people remain the primary voices during the discussions.
“We don’t want politicians dominating a youth event. The young people will do most of the talking, while government officials will do more listening,” he said.
Addressing concerns about the implementation of recommendations emerging from the dialogue, Mr. Gbollie expressed confidence in President Boakai’s commitment to youth development.
He explained that proposals requiring immediate action could receive direct presidential attention, while others would be referred to relevant ministries, agencies and state-owned enterprises for implementation.
He also highlighted the impact of previous Town Hall meetings, noting that the establishment of the President’s Youth Advisory Council itself was one of the key outcomes of recommendations made during an earlier engagement with the President.
“The last presidential town hall led to the establishment of the Youth Advisory Council. Who knows what important decisions could emerge from this year’s engagement? Young people will once again have the opportunity to place critical national issues before the President,” he added.
Established to strengthen communication between Liberia’s youth and the Presidency, the annual President’s Town Hall Meeting provides a structured platform for discussions on governance, employment, education, entrepreneurship and national development.
While the first two editions were held in Montserrado County, this year’s event marks the first time the forum will be hosted outside the capital, reflecting the government’s decentralization agenda and its commitment to expanding opportunities for youth participation across Liberia.
With young people comprising a significant portion of Liberia’s population, the annual Town Hall has become an important platform for civic engagement, enabling youth to contribute directly to national policymaking while promoting inclusive governance and democratic participation.
