Published: October 18, 2025
MONROVIA – The Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY) has accused the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MYS) of engineering what it describes as a “coordinated effort to influence” its upcoming General Assembly elections. The youth organization claims that senior ministry officials have attempted to impose a preferred candidate and have withheld institutional funding as leverage.
The FLY General Assembly, expected to gather delegates from across the country later this month, is meant to elect a new national leadership. However, tensions have escalated over what the Federation calls unwarranted interference from the Ministry.
FLY asserts independence
Speaking to reporters in Monrovia, Jeremiah Wilson, Vice President for National Affairs of FLY, said the Ministry has no constitutional authority to interfere in the organization’s internal affairs.
“FLY is not a department of the Ministry of Youth and Sports,” Wilson said firmly. “We are an independent youth institution established by an Act of the Legislature. The Ministry’s actions undermine the democratic principles our organization stands for.”
According to Wilson, FLY’s refusal to yield to political pressure has resulted in administrative bottlenecks and delayed access to the Federation’s government subsidy.
Deputy Minister Belleh named in allegations
Sources within FLY have identified Deputy Minister for Youth Development, Alphonso Belleh, as the key figure behind the Ministry’s involvement. They allege that he has used his office to exert influence over the FLY electoral process in favor of a particular candidate, described by some youth leaders as his church mate.
“Our leadership’s decision to resist external influence has not been received well,” one FLY insider claimed. “Deputy Minister Belleh’s actions have created unnecessary tension that could have been avoided if the Ministry respected our independence.”
Funding controversy
The Federation also alleges that the Ministry has withheld FLY’s annual subsidy, a move described as an attempt to pressure the organization into submission.
“Withholding the Federation’s operational funds because we refuse to take political instructions is unacceptable,” Wilson emphasized. “Public resources should not be used as tools of control.”
Ministry unresponsive to claims
Efforts to reach Deputy Minister Alphonso Belleh and officials of the Ministry of Youth and Sports for comment were unsuccessful at the time of this report.
Meanwhile, several county youth organizations, including representatives from Montserrado, Bong, and Nimba, have expressed concern over the Ministry’s alleged interference and called for a transparent and youth-led electoral process.
A call for youth autonomy
Despite the growing controversy, FLY says it remains committed to holding its General Assembly as planned.
“The Federation of Liberian Youth belongs to the young people of Liberia,” Wilson concluded. “No external actor, not even the Ministry, should dictate who leads us or how we run our affairs.”
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