23/07/2026
Oldest Congo Town Commissioner Urges Liberians to Promote Positive National Image, Embrace Skills Development
GIBI TV2 News
Thurs. July 23, 2026
By: Emmanuel V. Sensee
The Commissioner of Oldest Congo Town, Edward Horton Lahai, has urged Liberians to become ambassadors for their country by promoting a positive national image while encouraging active citizen participation and skills development to advance community growth.
Speaking Thursday on Truth FM, Commissioner Lahai emphasized the need for Liberians to highlight the country's strengths rather than focusing solely on its challenges.
He acknowledged Liberia's economic and social difficulties but noted that many African nations face similar circumstances.
According to him, countries such as Tanzania and Ethiopia continue to market their tourism, culture, and investment opportunities despite dealing with poverty, unemployment, and homelessness.
Drawing from his travels across the continent, Lahai said many nations deliberately project positive narratives that attract tourists, investors, and development partners instead of allowing their challenges to define them.
"We need to project our country positively and, at the same time, work together to solve the challenges we face," Lahai said.
He added that changing perceptions about Liberia could boost national pride while creating opportunities for increased tourism, investment, and economic growth.
The Commissioner also highlighted citizen participation in governance as one of the key accomplishments of his administration in Oldest Congo Town.
He stressed that local leaders must encourage residents to play an active role in community development, noting that government functions best when citizens are fully engaged.
Lahai further called on local authorities to move beyond identifying problems and instead focus on creating opportunities that improve livelihoods, particularly for unemployed young people.
As part of that effort, he said his administration has introduced a vocational skills training program designed to equip residents with practical, income-generating skills, including soap making, bread baking, tailoring, and other small business activities.
According to Lahai, the program's first cohort graduated 80 participants, many of whom are already using their newly acquired skills to earn a living and support their families.
He cited the example of one graduate who recently presented him with 30 gallons of locally produced soap as a gesture of appreciation after successfully establishing her own business through the initiative.
The Commissioner added that several other graduates are now producing locally made clothing and other products, describing their success as evidence that the program is fostering entrepreneurship and economic self-reliance within the community.
Reaffirming his commitment to expanding the initiative, Lahai expressed confidence that continued investment in vocational training and entrepreneurship would reduce dependency, create sustainable livelihoods, and contribute to the long-term development of Oldest Congo Town and Liberia as a whole.
