The Town Hall program will strengthen communication between the government and the citizens nationwide.
By Kruah Thompson
Monrovia, January 21, 2025: The Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs, and Tourism (MICAT) has announced the launch of a new program to encourage open discussions and strengthen communication nationwide.
The program called “The Town Hall” will strengthen communication between the government and the citizens nationwide.
This new initiative is designed to create a national platform for citizens to engage directly with government officials, encourage open discussions on key national issues, and promote greater transparency in governance.
During a radio interview on Monday, January 20, 2025, Information Minister Jerolimick Mathew Piah revealed that the program is scheduled to launch in February 2025, with plans to spread the government’s message nationwide.
“The intent of this program is to take the government one step further by improving how we deliver messages, not only through press conferences, radio stations, talk shows, and publications like The New Liberia and LINA,” he said.
He said the program is also intended to take the government’s message directly to the people in each county through a town hall engagement.
He emphasized that if the government’s first town hall meeting were to take place in Nimba County, officials from various ministries, including the Ministry of Commerce, would participate to discuss development issues relevant to the county.
To ensure that the program is not “stage-managed,” he noted that the ministry would partner with the Liberia Media Development Initiative (LMDI), led by John Kollie, to organize and moderate the discussions between the government and the citizens.
“The goal is to make sure the interaction is transparent and that the voices of the people are heard without interference,” Piah emphasized.
The LMDI, he added, will invite a wide range of participants, including youth, women, students, traditional leaders, opposition politicians, and other key stakeholders to ensure that every sector of society is represented.
According to him, the town halls will allow citizens to directly engage with government representatives, ask questions, and discuss important issues face-to-face.
“This marks a new chapter in Liberia’s efforts to foster greater civic engagement and transparency, as the government seeks to build stronger relationships with the people it serves,” he stated.
The program is expected to be an essential part of the ongoing efforts to enhance democracy and public trust in government institutions throughout the nation.
