MONROVIA – The Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) has officially transferred all culture and tourism personnel to the Liberia National Tourism Authority (LNTA), marking a historic milestone in the Government of Liberia’s efforts to reform and reposition the country’s tourism sector for sustainable national development.
The formal transfer ceremony was held on Friday, January 23, 2026, at the Charles Gbenyon Press Hall at MICAT, bringing together senior government officials, members of the LNTA Board, representatives of the Governance Commission, the Civil Service Agency (CSA), and staff of the Culture and Tourism Department.
Speaking at the ceremony, Information Minister Jerolinmek Matthew Piah described the transition as part of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr.’s broader agenda to dismantle dysfunctional systems inherited by the Unity Party–led government and replace them with efficient, accountable, and legally grounded institutions.
Piah: Reform Must Not Be Arbitrary
Minister Piah recalled that upon assuming office, MICAT had a workforce of 413 employees, a figure he said did not reflect the physical realities or operational needs of the ministry.
“We worked closely with the Civil Service Agency, and while the number was reduced to about 380, it was still considerably high,” Piah explained. “But fixing a broken system must never be arbitrary. There are institutions mandated to verify credentials and correct excesses, and we allowed them to do their work.”
He emphasized that MICAT deliberately subjected itself to CSA verification as a demonstration of leadership and transparency, noting that reform in one institution alone is insufficient to fix systemic problems across government.
“We are leading by example,” the Minister said. “Verification must extend across government if we are serious about reform.”
Call for Patience and Due Process
Minister Piah also addressed recent agitations and attempted protests by some staff during the transition period, urging patience and adherence to due process.
“We assured you that the transition would be done properly,” he told the staff. “Today, your doubts should be cleared. You are officially transitioning to the Liberia National Tourism Authority, and your jobs are not under threat.”
However, he cautioned that workforce reclassification would occur to align personnel with professional requirements, stressing that efficiency depends on placing “square pegs in square holes.”
“This should be welcomed,” he added. “Productivity suffers when people are placed where they do not fit.”
Minister Piah concluded by reassuring the transitioning staff that MICAT’s doors remain open, noting that he will continue to play a role in the sector as a member of the LNTA Board.
During the ceremony, the Minister formally presented the personnel verification report to LNTA Director General Princess Cooper, officially handing over responsibility for the staff.
MICAT Deputy Minister Reflects on Legislative Journey
Earlier, the Deputy Minister for Administration at MICAT said the transition fulfilled years of anticipation surrounding the detachment of tourism from the ministry.
“When we took over in 2024, everywhere we went people asked when tourism would be separated from MICAT,” the Deputy Minister said. “We had no timeline then, but we knew the President supported it.”
He explained that the passage of the LNTA Act made the transfer inevitable, describing the moment as both emotional and historic for staff who had served the ministry for decades.
“This is your mother institution,” he told the departing employees. “Though we let you go with heavy hearts, the repository of tourism and cultural knowledge remains here, and you can always refer back.”
Princess Cooper: A Strategic Realignment
For her part, LNTA Director General Princess Cooper described the transition as more than a farewell, calling it a “strategic realignment of the tourism sector.”
“Today marks the beginning of a new chapter—not only for the staff, but for the Ministry of Information and the Liberia National Tourism Authority,” Cooper said.
She paid tribute to Minister Piah for what she termed a bold and courageous decision that placed national progress above institutional comfort.
“These professionals have been storytellers, promoters, and guardians of our national identity,” she said. “Now, we are welcoming them home to LNTA.”
Cooper also acknowledged LNTA Board Chair Ambassador Christopher Hayes Onanuga, the Civil Service Agency, and the Governance Commission for ensuring the transition was completed in line with the law.
“We will review the verification report carefully and work within the legal framework governing LNTA,” she assured.
Addressing the transferred staff, Cooper urged them to carry forward the positive lessons learned at MICAT while embracing LNTA’s professional culture.
Governance Commission Highlights Reform Origins
Speaking on behalf of the Governance Commission (GC), the Vice Chairperson traced the origins of the LNTA to years of research and policy reform aimed at strengthening Liberia’s tourism industry.
She recalled that the Commission began studying the tourism sector to reverse stagnation and position it as a driver of economic growth.
“The existing structure needed regulatory leadership,” she said. “We therefore proposed extracting tourism from MICAT and establishing an independent authority.”
She noted that the idea received early support from former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, leading to the drafting of the LNTA bill in 2014, although the Authority was not immediately established.
The GC later organized a major policy dialogue on October 14, 2025, bringing together government, private sector actors, tourism associations, and development partners to identify barriers and opportunities within the sector.
She commended President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr. for demonstrating political commitment by signing the LNTA Act into law, aligning tourism with the national development agenda under the ARREST Agenda.
Onanuga: Tourism Can Transform Liberia’s Economy
LNTA Board Chair Ambassador Christopher Hayes Onanuga welcomed the incoming staff, describing LNTA as a family built on simplicity, collective endurance, and shared purpose.
Drawing on his experience in establishing institutions across Africa, Onanuga said tourism can contribute between 30 and 34 percent of national income if properly developed.
“There is no country in Africa that represents the continent the way Liberia does,” he said. “We can do even more if we work intentionally and collectively.”
He emphasized that tourism development cannot be done in isolation, urging collaboration across institutions and strict adherence to policies and codes of conduct.
“The road map is clear,” Onanuga said. “What remains is execution, capacity building, and competitiveness.”
A New Era for Tourism Governance
The official transfer of culture and tourism personnel to LNTA signals a new governance framework for Liberia’s tourism industry, with stakeholders expressing optimism that the reform will unlock investment, enhance accountability, and position tourism as a pillar of economic growth.