Monrovia – The Ministry of Youth and Sports has announced that a high-level government delegation will depart for France this weekend for an official working visit aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in youth empowerment and sports development.
By: Christopher C. Walker, [email protected]
According to a press release issued by the Ministry’s Office of the Director of Public Affairs, the mission comes at the invitation of the French Government and is scheduled to commence on Monday, April 28, 2026.
The delegation is expected to be headed by Youth and Sports Minister Cornelia Wonkerleh Kruah and includes Deputy Minister for Sports G. Andy Quamie, alongside senior leadership from the Liberia Football Association (LFA), including Second Vice President Saye-Taayor Adolphus Dolo.
High-Level Engagements in Paris
Upon arrival, the Liberian delegation will be received by officials from the Liberian Embassy in Paris, headed by Ambassador Teeko T. Yorlay Sr., Deputy Chief of Mission Emmanuel Saye Larmah, and Sports Liaison Officer Mohammed Diallo.
A centerpiece of the visit will be bilateral talks between Minister Kruah and France’s Minister of Sports, Youth, and Community Life, Madam Marina Ferrari.
The discussions are expected to focus on expanding technical cooperation in sports administration and the implementation of robust youth empowerment programs.
The itinerary also includes consultative meetings with various French sporting federations, covering disciplines beyond football, includingHandball, Basketball, Volleyball and Judo
Forging Technical Partnerships
The mission aims to secure tangible investments for Liberia’s sports sector. A key meeting is scheduled with Ya’ats Sports Establishment to explore the feasibility of establishing a state-of-the-art football academy in Liberia.
In a move to study successful club ownership and development models, the delegation will visit Bourges FC, a French club associated with Senegalese football icon Sadio Mané.
The team is also slated to interact with officials from the French National Olympic Committee.
Beyond the pitch, the visit will touch on technology and vocational training, with scheduled tours of an artificial intelligence (AI) startup and Voltaic, a prominent solar energy training facility.
The Broader Objective
The Ministry emphasized that the primary goal of the mission is to foster strategic partnerships that reposition Liberia’s youth and sports sectors through international collaboration.
“This visit forms part of ongoing efforts to attract technical and developmental support for our sporting programs and to open new opportunities for infrastructure and talent identification,” .
The mission comes at a critical juncture for the Ministry, as it seeks to diversify its global partnerships and secure the resources necessary for large-scale institutional strengthening.
