Monrovia – Over the weekend, the Governments of Liberia and Sierra Leone, in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the World Food Programme (WFP), and other partners, concluded the second phase of the Joint Project Steering Committee Meeting of the GOLA Resilience, Empowerment, Access, and Peacebuilding (GOLA-REAP) Project.
The meeting, held in Monrovia, sought to review project progress, assess implementation updates, and provide strategic guidance for the next phase of the initiative.
Bringing together participants from both countries, the meeting included representatives from the Ministry of Internal Affairs (chair), United Nations Resident Coordinators (co-chair), Ministries of Planning and Economic Development, Agriculture, Forestry Authorities, Immigration Services, and other relevant government ministries, as well as representatives from project districts, local authorities, international and regional partners, and other key stakeholders.
The GOLA-REAP Project is a joint initiative between Liberia and Sierra Leone, funded by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund. It seeks to foster cross-border collaboration, strengthen community resilience, promote sustainable livelihoods, and enhance cooperation among border communities, law enforcement agencies, and local authorities in both countries.
It can be recalled that on April 3, 2025, both countries held the first phase of the Steering Committee Meeting in Bo, Sierra Leone, where delegates discussed key issues related to the project’s early implementation.
Liberia’s Commitment to Resilience and Peacebuilding
Speaking on behalf of the Government of Liberia on Friday, October 3, 2025, at a local hotel in Monrovia, Internal Affairs Minister Francis Nyumalin emphasized the need for the GOLA-REAP Project to address pressing challenges by enhancing community resilience and strengthening border cohesion.
He reaffirmed President Joseph Boakai’s government’s commitment to forest protection, community resilience, sustainable peace, reconciliation, and social cohesion across the Mano River Union (MRU) region.
Minister Nyumalin attributed Liberia’s historical underdevelopment to mismanagement of natural resources, weak institutions, and poor leadership.
“The underdevelopment of Liberia is due to the misuse of the country’s natural resources and inadequate leadership. But we are glad to have President Joseph N. Boakai as a leader who is committed to transforming this country, revamping local government, and strengthening our institutions,” he said.
Sierra Leone’s Call to Break Colonial Boundaries
For his part, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Morie Lengor, called on Africans to work harder to dismantle colonial boundaries that continue to divide the continent.
“Except for the border that I crossed, I don’t feel like I am in another country. That is why Africa must work harder to break the colonial boundaries that are keeping us apart,” he said.
Minister Lengor noted that the GOLA-REAP Project has further strengthened the relationship between Liberia and Sierra Leone as “one people with a shared destiny.”
He recounted an incident when tensions arose along the border between the two countries.
“Not too long ago, I received alarming calls from my people at the border about a looming conflict with Liberia. I immediately called my brother, Francis Nyumalin, who assured me the issue would be resolved—and true to his word, it was. When I reported this to my Parliament, everyone was pleased,” he shared.
Minister Lengor thanked all development partners for supporting peacebuilding, conflict prevention, wildlife protection, biodiversity conservation, and climate action under the GOLA-REAP framework. He urged implementing partners to continue prioritizing community resilience and called on both governments to ensure lasting peace and security.
Youth Inclusion and Traditional Leadership
Also speaking, Sierra Leone’s Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs, Patrick Gibrilla, stressed the importance of youth participation in the project, noting that young people are critical agents of peace and development.
“Youth are paramount to sustaining peace. They are agents of change who possess the energy to drive development, especially when empowered and given opportunities for meaningful participation in peacebuilding and regional development,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Liberia, Eddie S. Massally, underscored the importance of involving Paramount Chiefs from both countries in all meetings and project activities to ensure community ownership and sustainability.
He described Paramount Chiefs as “vital bridges between government policies and grassroots realities,” emphasizing that strategies developed without their input risk poor understanding or weak implementation at the community level.
Partners Reaffirm Commitment to Peace and Environmental Protection
The UN Resident Coordinator in Sierra Leone, Madam Sarafina Wakana, highlighted the meeting’s significance in advancing regional peace and integration.
She said the GOLA-REAP initiative is not only about biodiversity conservation but also about promoting sustainable livelihoods and peaceful coexistence among border communities.
Representing the UN Resident Coordinator in Liberia, Christian Mukosa noted that the project will deepen collaboration and enhance development cooperation between the two countries.
Ambassador Simeon Moribah, Secretary General of the Mano River Union (MRU), reaffirmed the Union’s commitment to preserving the Gola Forest, describing it as a “shared heritage” and an “ecological bulwark for the region.”
“The Gola Forest National Park is not only a shared heritage of Liberia and Sierra Leone but also a crucial ecological shield for our region. The MRU will support every effort to conserve this transboundary ecosystem, protect its biodiversity, prevent deforestation, and ensure its sustainable use for future generations,” he said.
Ambassador Moribah further linked environmental protection to regional peace, stressing that:
“Conservation is more than protecting trees and wildlife—it’s about securing livelihoods, fostering cross-border trust, and maintaining stability among communities that depend on the forest. A healthy environment contributes to peace, just as peace enables proper environmental management.”
About the GOLA-REAP Project
The GOLA-REAP Project is jointly implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the World Food Programme (WFP) in collaboration with the Governments of Liberia and Sierra Leone. It also involves the Mano River Union Secretariat, Civil Society Organizations, and national institutions including Sierra Leone’s National Protected Area Authority (NPPA) and Liberia’s Forestry Development Authority (FDA).
Source: Liberia, Sierra Leone Conclude Phase Two of GOLA-REAP Steering Committee Meeting – FrontPageAfrica