The Civil Service Agency (CSA) has launched a monthly electronic newsletter aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability, and communication across Liberia’s public sector.
The newsletter was unveiled Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at the CSA headquarters in Monrovia, bringing together senior government officials, media representatives, civil society organizations, and development partners.
The initiative forms part of the government’s broader public sector reform agenda under the administration of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, with increased focus on strategic communication and citizen engagement.
Speaking at the launch, CSA Director General Dr. Josiah F. Joekai Jr. said the newsletter is designed to provide civil servants and the public with regular updates on government reforms, policies, programs, and activities within the civil service.
“The newsletter is going to be going far and wide,” Joekai said, revealing that more than 200 people had already subscribed ahead of the official launch. He encouraged citizens and public officials to subscribe, describing the platform as another tool for promoting transparency and civic participation.
Joekai explained that the publication will complement the CSA’s existing communication platforms, including its official website, artificial intelligence-powered virtual information assistant, the “Civil Servant Magazine,” annual reports, and participation in the Ministry of Information’s regular press briefings.
“We have a complete communication framework. It is well structured and not by accident,” he said. “We are committed to educating government employees, informing the public, and ensuring people understand the work we do to improve the civil service.”
The CSA boss also praised Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism Minister Jerolinmek Matthew Piah for transforming government communication, saying the Ministry of Information has evolved from a traditional public relations institution into a modern system that proactively shares government policies and activities with citizens.
According to Joekai, the ministry’s regular press briefings have helped reduce misinformation and improve public understanding of government programs and citizens’ responsibilities.
Launching the newsletter, Minister Piah commended the CSA for integrating communication into its institutional reform efforts. He recalled his visit to the agency in October 2024 to launch the National Civil Service Testing Center, noting that the CSA has since emerged as one of the government’s leading institutions in public communication.
“More than any other government institution, the CSA fully utilizes the Ministry of Information’s bi-weekly press conferences to communicate its policies, programs and activities,” Piah said.
He said the CSA’s commitment reflects the principles of good governance, including openness, accountability, and proactive engagement with the public.
Piah noted that while newsletters have existed for centuries, they remain effective tools for institutional communication in the digital age. He recalled that the CSA previously published newsletters between 2009 and 2011, mainly focusing on the Senior Executive Service Program, but publication later stopped.
He said the agency’s renewed communication strategy since 2024, including the launch of the 80-page “Civil Servant Magazine,” improved website updates, social media engagement, and now the monthly e-newsletter, has significantly increased public awareness of civil service reforms.
The information minister encouraged other ministries, agencies, and commissions to develop similar publications, warning that failure to communicate achievements and challenges often creates room for misinformation and public distrust.
“We often do not tell our own success stories and challenges, and this gives room for public speculation, misinformation, disinformation and public disdain,” Piah said.
Meanwhile, Press Union of Liberia (PUL) President Julius Kanubah welcomed the initiative, describing it as an important step toward improving professionalism, accountability, and communication within the civil service.
“This newsletter should be more than a publication,” Kanubah said. “It should be a bridge between policy and practice, between government and citizens, and between commitment and accountability.”
Kanubah also urged the CSA to ensure that its recently introduced Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreement for public employees aligns with Liberia’s Freedom of Information Act and national transparency commitments.
“The CSA must not be seen as an entity that is reintroducing secrecy in government,” he cautioned, adding that civil society groups are seeking dialogue with the agency on aspects of the policy.
