07/10/2025
FOFI Executive Director Calls for Balanced Advocacy by CSOs
By James Myking Suah
Barclayville, Oct 7, 2025 (Grand Kru TV News) โ The Friends of Franbarnie International (FOFI), a leading civil society organization working in Grand Kru County, is urging civil society organizations to adopt a balanced approach to advocacy.
FOFI Executive Director D. Nyandeh Sieh Sr. said that while it is important to hold the government accountable and highlight areas that need improvement, it is equally important to recognize and commend progress made by government actors.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, October 3, at his Barclayville local office, Sieh said such an approach not only promotes good governance but also helps build a positive image of the country and its officials.
The civil society leader called for increased support for the education system and stronger action to address illicit miningโissues he described as crucial to good governance and national development.
He urged the government to put measures in place to regulate and monitor mining activities to ensure they are carried out sustainably and responsibly, benefiting both the country and its citizens.
โCivil society organizations play a key role in promoting accountability and transparency. Their advocacy efforts should be guided by a sense of responsibility to the country and its citizens,โ Sieh said.
He also highlighted the importance of improving road connectivity. โIn this country, you need to look at road connectivityโbecause for anything to happen, you need good roads. If we continue tackling it, people will have a good impression of their country, and Liberians will be the judge,โ Sieh asserted.
โJust recently, when our son was president, cars could not enter Grand Kru. Right now vehicles are entering our county, so I must give Boakai credit,โ he added.
FOFI said it remains committed to advocating for the development and progress of Grand Kru County and Liberia as a whole, while maintaining a constructive relationship with the government to achieve meaningful and sustainable change.
Friends of Franbarnie International supports and works with community-based organizations in Liberia to create awareness and advocate for the rights of children, women, and persons with disabilities, and to support local peacebuilding and reconciliation efforts in Grand Kru County.