Piah Highlights EU Forum, Roads, Scholarships in Policy Update

-GoL Signals Investment Push and Governance Reforms

Weekly government briefings in Liberia often serve as more than routine updates—they provide a window into policy direction, fiscal priorities, and diplomatic strategy in a country balancing recovery with growth ambitions. From investment promotion to infrastructure expansion, foreign service administration, and youth protection measures, the breadth of issues addressed by Information Minister Jerolinmek Matthew Piah reflects the multidimensional challenges facing the Boakai administration. His briefing outlining participation in an EU business forum, road construction efforts, scholarship expansion, diplomatic payroll fixes, and a crackdown on underage gambling underscores a government attempting to link economic reform with governance credibility and social protection in Liberia’s evolving policy landscape. THE ANALYST reports.

Liberia’s Minister of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism, Jerolinmek Matthew Piah, has outlined a range of government initiatives spanning investment promotion, road construction, foreign service salary payments, scholarship awards, and a nationwide crackdown on underage gambling.

Speaking Thursday at the regular press briefing of the Ministry of Information, Minister Piah said the Government of Liberia, in collaboration with the European Union, will participate next week in the EU–Liberia Business Forum in Brussels, an event aimed at attracting European investors and expanding economic partnerships.

According to Piah, several key government institutions will travel to Brussels to present Liberia’s investment opportunities and engage prospective European investors in sectors including infrastructure, agriculture, mining, energy, and services.

“Our hope is that this forum will yield very positive dividends for the country,” he said, noting that expanding Liberia’s economy depends heavily on successfully marketing the country to credible international investors.

He emphasized that the Boakai administration remains focused on job creation and private-sector growth through strategic international partnerships, adding that attracting investment is critical to strengthening Liberia’s economic resilience.

Foreign Service Salary Concerns Addressed

Minister Piah also addressed recent social media reports alleging that Liberia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs owes salaries and benefits to members of the country’s Foreign Service posted abroad.

He clarified that Liberia maintains about 30 diplomatic missions overseas and that salary payments are generally processed regularly. However, he acknowledged that minor administrative challenges affected a limited number of payments between October and December 2025.

To address the issue, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning held a joint working session on February 17, 2026, to identify the source of the bottleneck.

The review revealed that Liberia’s mission in Brussels was particularly affected after four payments processed in October 2025 were returned to the Central Bank of Liberia multiple times due to transmission misalignments linked to newly implemented SWIFT banking requirements.

Both ministries have since agreed to adjust processing timelines and improve coordination to prevent future delays. The government, Piah said, remains committed to timely payment of salaries and benefits to diplomats serving abroad.

Diplomatic Engagements Continue

On the diplomatic front, Piah disclosed that Liberia and Egypt recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at strengthening diplomatic training and academic exchange.

The agreement establishes cooperation between Liberia’s Gabriel L. Dennis Foreign Service Institute and Egypt’s Institute of Diplomatic Studies, providing for joint training programmes, academic exchanges, and research collaboration to build Liberia’s diplomatic capacity.

He also noted that ambassadors from Congo, Venezuela, and Indonesia recently presented letters of credence to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai at the Executive Mansion, further strengthening Liberia’s diplomatic ties.

Road Construction Push Ahead of Rainy Season

Providing updates from the infrastructure sector, Minister Piah said the Ministry of Public Works has intensified field inspections to ensure the quality and timely execution of road projects across the country.

He said the government is accelerating road construction before the onset of the rainy season, which typically slows infrastructure works.

According to him, the Minister of Public Works recently inspected ongoing projects, including the Boulevard corridor and other key road networks.

Regarding the Monrovia–Gbarnga highway project under a Public-Private Partnership arrangement, Piah said mobilization efforts are ongoing, with equipment already deployed to designated sites.

He emphasized that the ratified agreement is substantive and that groundbreaking and full construction are expected to begin shortly.

Scholarship Programme Expands Access

Turning to education, Piah announced that the Ministry of Education has convened its 2026 Local Scholarship Orientation and Contract Signing Ceremony for more than 800 beneficiaries nationwide.

The initiative aims to expand equitable access to higher education, with beneficiaries signing contracts committing to academic excellence, discipline, and national service.

He said the scholarship programme is grounded in merit, fairness, and inclusion, ensuring students from across Liberia’s counties benefit based on performance.

The programme also incorporates community service components to reinforce the connection between education and national development.

MCC Compact Preparations Underway

Minister Piah further disclosed that following Liberia’s reaffirmed eligibility for a Millennium Challenge Corporation compact, the Ministry of Finance is working with the MCC to structure leadership for the Compact Development Office.

Several key positions have been advertised, including Finance, Investment and Trade Specialist; Environmental and Social Performance Specialist; and Gender and Social Inclusion Specialist.

These roles, he said, will help integrate environmental safeguards, promote private-sector investment, and ensure inclusive economic growth as Liberia prepares for the compact’s implementation.

Nationwide Crackdown on Underage Gambling

Meanwhile, the government, through the National Lottery Authority, has launched a nationwide enforcement campaign targeting underage gambling.

Inspectors have been deployed to betting shops to enforce age restrictions, with operators violating regulations facing penalties, suspension, or closure.

The initiative also targets unlicensed operators amid concerns about the social and psychological impact of gambling on young people, including addiction and declining academic performance.

Minister Piah noted that while enforcement is important, long-term success will require public awareness campaigns, community reporting mechanisms, and alternative economic opportunities for youth.

Government Reaffirms Development Agenda

Minister Piah concluded by reaffirming the government’s commitment to economic growth, institutional reform, and social protection as Liberia advances its development priorities.

Analysts say the range of issues addressed during the briefing—from investment promotion to infrastructure and education—reflects the administration’s effort to balance macroeconomic reform with social policy and governance improvements.

For Liberia, where public expectations remain high following recent elections, the success of such initiatives will depend on sustained implementation, fiscal discipline, and continued engagement with both domestic stakeholders and international partners.