MONROVIA – Grand Kru County District #2 Representative Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa has described as an “honor” the opportunity to welcome young voices from Grand Kru and the broader southeastern region during a landmark engagement at the Capitol, where children called for urgent improvements in Liberia’s education, healthcare, and justice systems.
The event, held on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, brought together children from Maryland, Grand Kru, and Montserrado counties participating in the 9th Annual Peace Through Fair Play (PTFP) Camp, a youth leadership initiative organized by the Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa (GPFA). For many of the children, it marked their first visit to the capital.
Koffa, visibly moved by the encounter, noted the symbolic importance of the children’s journey from the Southeast to Monrovia. “It was a true honor to welcome young minds from Grand Kru and the Southeast, many of whom were visiting Monrovia for the first time,” he said. “Thanks to the Gbowee Foundation, these future leaders are being exposed to new ideas and opportunities that can shape their journey ahead.”
As a son of the Southeast who has risen to national leadership, Koffa expressed his admiration for the children’s courage and aspirations. “I was inspired by their energy and ambition. May this visit spark bold dreams and lasting impact,” he remarked, pledging support for initiatives that empower youth voices and deliver development to underserved regions.
During their visit, the children addressed members of the Liberian Senate, delivering a petition that painted a sobering picture of the country’s developmental failures. Representing the campers, N. Kenneth Weah of Lady of Fatima High School in Harper, Maryland County, called for bold legislative action to address inadequate schools, poor healthcare access, economic hardship, and weak justice systems.
The students shared that many of their schools lack trained teachers, science labs, and sufficient textbooks. They also raised alarms about long distances to schools and the overcrowded conditions in rural classrooms. On the health front, the petition cited dangerously understaffed and under-equipped medical facilities, where mothers must travel miles for basic treatment.
Economic hardship, they added, has forced some children to abandon their education. With parents barely surviving as farmers or market vendors, the inability to pay school fees continues to undermine the future of many. The children also expressed concern about the justice system, saying too many communities live in fear and without adequate legal protection.
“We hope you will remember our voices,” Weah told lawmakers. “With better roads, education, health, jobs, and justice, we believe all Liberian children can have a brighter future.”
Koffa’s presence and responsiveness to the children underscored the need for concrete action from Liberia’s political leadership. While the GPFA continues to amplify youth voices, the onus now lies on national decision-makers to transform the children’s heartfelt petition into meaningful policy change.
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