Monrovia – President Joseph N. Boakai’s second State of the Nation Address (SONA), delivered on Monday, January 27, 2025, has left many sports enthusiasts and stakeholders deeply disappointed as he failed to address the pressing issues facing sports development in Liberia.
The omission of sports in the President’s statement has sparked concerns about his administration’s commitment to fostering growth and progress in the sector. While the address highlighted various achievements and future plans for the nation, sports were notably absent, raising eyebrows among advocates for youth and athletic advancement.
In 2024, Liberian athletes from the Liberia Athletics Federation (LAF) and Liberia Chess Federation (LCF) made remarkable strides on the international stage with outstanding performances. Joseph Fahnbulleh, Ebony Morrison, Emmanuel Matadi, and others raised the Liberian flag high at the African Senior Championship in Cameroon, where the country secured 10 medals, including three golds won by Fahnbulleh and Morrison.
Fahnbulleh, now a globally recognized sprinter, further cemented his reputation by reaching the 200m final at the 2024 Paris Olympics—a historic feat for a Liberian athlete. Additionally, at the World Chess Olympiad, young Liberian chess prodigy Abigail Karyah impressed by finishing among the top 10 competitors, showcasing immense talent and promise for the nation’s chess community.
Despite these significant achievements and the government’s financial contributions to sports programs, President Boakai made no mention of them in his address. This oversight has prompted widespread questions about the administration’s priorities and its readiness to invest in sports infrastructure and initiatives.
Efforts by The Liberian Investigator to confirm whether various sports associations and federations had submitted their reports in time for inclusion in the President’s address proved inconclusive, as multiple attempts to get comments from the Ministry of Youth and Sports yielded no response.
Critics, however, argue that the omission reflects a broader issue of neglect and mismanagement within the Ministry of Youth and Sports. They contend that the absence of sports from the SONA signals an alarming lack of attention to a sector that holds immense potential for national unity and youth empowerment.
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