Published: October 23, 2026
MONROVIA — Youth and Sports Minister Cornelia Kruah has urged greater investment in intellectual sports, saying Liberia’s hosting of the 2026 Africa Scrabble Championship presents an opportunity to develop young talent and strengthen the country’s standing in international sports.
Kruah made the call Thursday while officially opening the 16th Africa Scrabble Championship at the EJS Ministerial Complex in Congo Town. It marks the first time Liberia has hosted the continental competition.
The four-day championship, running through Oct. 25, brings together players from six English-speaking African countries to compete for continental honors while promoting sportsmanship, cultural exchange and unity.
Kruah said intellectual sports such as Scrabble deserve greater recognition in Liberia’s national sports development agenda, noting that the game can improve vocabulary, concentration, creativity and decision-making.
She lamented that public discussions about sports in Liberia often focus on football, basketball, kickball and athletics, while intellectual sports receive less attention.
“Intellectual sports are left for those who are referred to as learned,” Kruah said, adding that some young people avoid participating because they believe Scrabble requires an exceptional level of intelligence.
She described these perceptions as misconceptions that increased awareness, community engagement, and more opportunities for young people to learn the game can address.
Kruah warned against repeating the challenges other sports in Liberia, particularly football, face, as football has struggled to maintain the international recognition it once enjoyed.
“We must be able to bridge that gap; we must start now to grow a younger generation that should take over Scrabble,” she said.
The minister said investment in sports also supports youth development by building confidence, discipline, and problem-solving skills. She urged stakeholders to promote Scrabble in schools and communities to broaden participation and create pathways for Liberian players to compete internationally.
Kruah encouraged participants to compete with discipline and respect while urging visiting delegations to experience Liberia’s hospitality.
James Monbo, chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, described Liberia’s hosting of the championship as a milestone in the country’s sporting history.
Monbo said the competition, which began in Kenya in 1994, has established a strong tradition of intellectual sports across Africa, adding that Liberia was honored to join the list of host nations.
He said the tournament would give local players valuable international exposure, raise Scrabble’s profile, and encourage more young people to take up the game.
Monbo also cited Liberia’s silver medal at the 2024 African Games in Accra, Ghana, as evidence of the country’s potential in the sport.
He said Scrabble offers educational benefits by strengthening vocabulary, encouraging mathematical thinking and teaching patience, respect for rules and resilience.
The LOC chairman thanked the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the National Social Security and Welfare Corporation, the National Port Authority and Tuzee en Afrique Tours for supporting the championship.
The competition concludes Oct. 25, bringing together some of Africa’s top Scrabble players in a test of vocabulary, strategy and intellectual ability.
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