LCF Officials and Government Partners Urge Unity Amid Crisis, Call for Karyah to Stay On

Published: November 11, 2024

Monrovia — In a pivotal meeting held on Saturday, November 9, members of the Liberia Chess Federation (LCF) and officials from the Ministry of Youth and Sports gathered to address the ongoing crisis within the federation. Key resolutions and proposals were presented to restore stability and foster progress.

The meeting, held at the federation’s headquarters in Sinkor, included prominent attendees such as former Minister of Finance and Development Planning Samuel D. Tweah, Deputy Sports Minister for Administration Henry Yonton, and Deputy Minister of Sports Andy Quamie.

During the day-long roundtable, participants called on Mr. Thomas Karyah to reconsider his recent decision to resign as President of the LCF. Karyah had submitted his resignation following accusations of mismanagement and placing the federation in significant debt.

However, at the weekend meeting, 80 percent of the members, including former federation president Samuel D. Tweah, emphasized the importance of Karyah’s leadership during this critical period. They urged him to remain in his role until the issues are resolved or until his term concludes.

Tweah stressed the need for a collaborative and respectful environment to tackle the federation’s challenges. “This is the time to move away from derogatory remarks and focus on constructive criticism,” he advised.

As a founding member of the federation, Tweah proposed the creation of an LCF Board to provide periodic guidance to the federation’s leadership on important matters.

To further address the federation’s issues, the Ministry of Youth and Sports announced a reconciliatory meeting scheduled for the next 11 to 14 days. This meeting, to be attended by facilitators and chess leadership, aims to foster a more collaborative approach to resolving the federation’s challenges.

Following the meeting, Thomas Karyah did not indicate whether he would rescind his resignation, as encouraged by the members. The federation awaits his decision, hopeful for a resolution that will bring stability and unity to the LCF.