Monrovia, Liberia – As part of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr.’s development agenda, the government of Liberia has officially launched a broad-based National Steering Committee to plan and deliver the eagerly awaited Diaspora Annual Return 2026. Erasmus Tiampa Williams, Executive Director, Diaspora Office, stated that the group was formed after the Diaspora Strategic Plan (2024–2027) was presented during the first Cabinet Retreat, which was chaired by President Boakai.
According to Director Williams, the plan is in line with the Administration’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID) and emphasizes structured diaspora participation as a key component of national development. He went on to say that the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs’ Diaspora Office has been tasked with organizing, monitoring, and carrying out President Boakai’s promises to Liberians living overseas.
Williams clarified that the National Steering Committee was created to supervise the 2026 Annual Return planning process, which is a public-private partnership project aimed at bringing Liberians together domestically and internationally in the areas of investment, culture, governance, and national branding. Regarding the leadership structure, he stated that the Ministry of State’s Diaspora Office will chair the steering committee, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Diaspora Office serving as co-chair.
The Committee, he said, is made up of representatives from public-private sector stakeholders, diaspora organizations, civil society, strategy partners, and important government agencies. Naming, Williams disclosed that Government and Institutional members are, Ministry of State – Diaspora Office (Chair), Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Diaspora Office (Co-Chair), Ministry of Finance – Secretariat Member, Ministry of Information (MOI) – Secretariat Member, National Investment Commission – Member, Ministry of Commerce – Member, Liberia Chamber of Commerce – Member, Liberia National Police – Member, Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC) – Member, Ministry of Health – Member, Ministry of Internal Affairs – Member, Senate Diaspora Caucus – Member, House of Representatives Diaspora Caucus – Member amongst others.
Moreover, recognized diaspora organizations include, USA: Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas (ULAA), Mohammed Kieta – President, Alfred Sieh, Australia: Federation of Liberian Communities in Australia (FOLICA), James Andrews, Sylvanus S. Konneh, Canada: Liberian Association of Canada (LAC), Eugene Bioh Blawah, Abraham Lincoln Mackay, Ghana: United Liberian Association of Ghana (ULAG), Madam Julia Mardea Richards, Madam Cecelia W. Ofosu, Europe: European Federation of Liberian Associations (EFLA), Francis Mansah, Kingston Wleh.
According to him, the Planning Committee will operate through specialized subcommittees chaired by Dr. Clarice Ford Kulah, with Mrs. Tianna Sherman Kesselly serving as Co-Chair and other members. Williams added that it is anticipated that the Diaspora Annual Return 2026 will function as a unified national platform to draw in investment, fortify cultural identity, and encourage organized interaction between Liberia and its international diaspora community.
He characterized the project as a game-changing chance to strengthen Liberia’s diplomatic, economic, and cultural influence globally while combining diaspora contributions into real development results. “The Boakai Administration is positioning the 2026 Annual Return as one of the most coordinated diaspora engagement efforts in Liberia’s recent history,” Willaims said, adding that government departments, foreign organizations, diaspora federations, and private sector leaders are now formally united.
Reported by: Prince Saah
