By: Ben TC Brooks |River Gee Correspondent
River Gee County | April 8, 2026 | A coalition of youth organizations in River Gee County, operating under the banner One River Gee Youth, has formally petitioned the national government through the Ministry of Youth and Sports, urging immediate intervention to address growing challenges affecting young people in the county and beyond.
In their petition to the Ministry, the group expressed concern that despite their willingness to contribute meaningfully to national development, they continue to face systemic neglect, limited opportunities, and lack of institutional support.
The youth highlighted the deteriorating condition of the county’s only technical and multilateral school, noting that students often travel long distances to attend classes in poorly equipped facilities.
According to the petition, these institutions lack modern teaching materials and relevant curricula needed to prepare students for today’s job market.
“We are being taught with limited materials and equipment that do not prepare us for the demands of today’s world,” the statement emphasized.
The coalition also raised alarm over the increasing use of illicit substances, particularly a drug locally known as “Kush.” With no rehabilitation center in the county, young people battling addiction have little to no access to treatment or recovery support.
“This crisis is destroying the future of our peers,” the group warned.
Despite having skills and potential, the youth claim they are frequently excluded from national empowerment and entrepreneurship initiatives led by the Ministry.
The exclusion, they argue, has contributed to widespread unemployment and growing frustration among young people in the county.
The petition further pointed to the poor condition of key youth facilities. The county’s youth center is reportedly unusable, while the sports stadium lacks basic amenities necessary for recreation and youth engagement.
The coalition outlined several key recommendations of immediate inclusion of River Gee youth in national empowerment and entrepreneurship programs, modernization of technical and vocational school curricula, the provision of transportation for students, renovation and full equipping of the county youth center.
Others include, the upgrading the River Gee Vocational and Technical Training Institute, a construction of a regional rehabilitation center to address drug addiction, and the establishment of a multipurpose youth complex for skills training, sports, and cultural activities.
Despite the challenges, the coalition emphasized its determination to drive positive change.
“We refuse to become a lost generation. We want to be the generation that transforms River Gee and contributes to Liberia’s progress,” the statement concluded.
The petition has received backing from several youth and civil society organizations, including the Association of River Gee Youth, Mano River Youth Parliament, River Gee Chapter, Federation of Liberian Youth, River Gee Chapter, the Randy Nuch Brickson Foundation, and the River Gee Student Union among others.
In response, Youth and Sports Minister Cornelia Wonkerleh Kruah welcomed the petition, acknowledging the Youth urgency of the concerns raised.
She assured the youth that the Ministry would begin addressing some of the issues immediately upon her return to office.
“Your petition is genuine and requires urgent attention. The concerns you have raised reflect realities we have already been briefed on by our county coordinator,” Minister Kruah stated.
During her recent visit to River Gee County, the Minister toured several key public institutions, including the Gbeapo Multilateral High School, the Kanweaken, electoral district 1, of River Gee where she observed deteriorating learning conditions and participated in a student quiz competition organized by One River Gee Youth.
The young and vivacious Youth and Sports boss, also inspected the county’s youth center, the county sports stadium all reported to be in poor condition, and the River Gee Vocational and Technical Training Institute annex in Fish Town with many challenges and little progress presented to the Minister by the River Gee Vocational and Technical Training Institute Assistant Director for Technical Services, and former Superintendent of River Gee Philip Jah.
However, the Minister’s visit was hosted by the office of Senator Francis Saidy Dopoh II, River Gee County electoral district 1 Representative Alexander Poure, and was attended by current and former county superintendents, Mike Swengbe and Philip Q. Nyenuh, along with students, civil society groups, local authorities, security personnel, women’s groups, and youth representatives.
