— 26 Labour Ministry Staff Graduate from LIPA Training Program
India has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Liberia’s technical and manpower development sector as 26 employees of the Ministry of Labour graduated from a capacity-building training program conducted by the Liberia Institute of Public Administration (LIPA).
The graduates received certificates in Monitoring and Evaluation, Project Management and Public Financial Management, marking a key step in the Ministry’s efforts to enhance institutional efficiency and workforce competence.
Serving as keynote speaker at the graduation ceremony held at the Ministry of Labour in Monrovia, India’s Ambassador to Liberia, H.E. Manoj Bharti Verma, lauded the initiative and emphasized his government’s willingness to support Liberia’s development through human capacity investment.
“We believe that the best thing any country can do is to invest in its people,” Ambassador Verma said.
“Through initiatives like the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program, India continues to share democratic values and a common vision for inclusive development.”
He revealed that India -Liberia bilateral relations have reached new heights, with trade between the two countries growing by an impressive 54 percent, reaching nearly USD 400 million in the 2024–2025 financial year.
Ambassador Verma underscored that the longstanding relationship between the two nations is built on shared democratic ideals and mutual respect.
He also assured the Ministry of Labour of the wide range of opportunities available for Liberian public sector workers under India’s technical cooperation framework, pledging continued partnership in advancing professional training and capacity enhancement.
In remarks, Labour Minister Cooper W. Kruah, Sr. expressed delight at the achievement of his staff and urged them to apply the knowledge and skills gained to improve productivity and efficiency within the Ministry.
“By applying what you have learned, you will contribute meaningfully to achieving the transformative goals of the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID),” Minister Kruah said.
Also speaking, Civil Service Agency (CSA) Director-General Josiah Joekai and LIPA Deputy Director-General for Administration Michael Wah commended the Ministry for prioritizing staff training as a key element in fulfilling the Performance Management Compliance System (PMCS) requirements.
Mr. Wah disclosed that LIPA, in collaboration with the Ghana Institute of Public Administration (GIPA), has embarked on advanced technical training programs for Liberian public servants to strengthen government service delivery.
Meanwhile, Atty. Jamaima Harris, PMCS Team Lead at the Cabinet Secretariat, described the ongoing LIPA training programs as crucial for building strategic capacity across government ministries and agencies.
Speaking on behalf of the graduating class, Mr. Mohfel Dekpah, Director of Personnel at the Ministry of Labour, extended gratitude to Minister Kruah and his administration for prioritizing staff development in alignment with the government’s reform agenda.
The ceremony concluded with an announcement that several additional staff of the Ministry of Labour are expected to depart Liberia soon to undergo further capacity-building training
In neighboring Sierra Leone, under regional cooperation programs supported by the Government of Liberia and its development partners. By Amos Harris
