A fresh wave of political tension has erupted after the Revolutionary National Youth League of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) boycotted an inter-party youth engagement meeting called by Youth and Sports Minister Cornelia Wonkerleh Kruah. The group cited what it termed “poor judgment and misplaced priorities” over the Ministry’s decision to host the event at Bella Casa entertainment center.
In a strongly worded statement issued Saturday, the CDC Youth League announced its refusal to participate, arguing that the choice of venue sends the wrong message about national youth leadership. The group described Bella Casa as an inappropriate setting for an official inter-party discussion focused on national development and youth empowerment.
The League maintained that the Ministry should concentrate on addressing Liberia’s mounting youth challenges—rising unemployment, limited vocational training, and increasing drug abuse—rather than organizing symbolic gatherings in entertainment venues.
“The Ministry’s credibility rests on the seriousness with which it addresses youth realities, not photo opportunities in nightclubs,” one spokesperson noted.
The organization further accused the Ministry of politicizing youth engagement initiatives under the Unity Party–led government of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung, claiming that early partisanship threatens inclusivity and genuine national dialogue.
Minister Kruah, however, defended the initiative, saying the meeting aimed to foster unity among political party youth wings while promoting collaboration and mutual respect. She argued that the Ministry’s objective was to build bridges across political divides and brief youth representatives on current programs and projects.
Still, the CDC Youth League’s boycott has spotlighted deeper political divides within Liberia’s youth sector—raising questions about whether dialogue can thrive in an atmosphere charged with mistrust and differing priorities.
