Liberia: Diaspora Office Appoints Leadership for 2026 Annual Conference Planning Committee - FrontPageAfrica

Monrovia-The Office of Diaspora Affairs has announced the appointment of a leadership team to spearhead planning for the 2026 Diaspora Annual Conference, scheduled for September.

According to a press release issued on Monday, Ambassador Emmett Dunn has been appointed Chairman of the Planning Committee, with Ambassador MacDella Cooper serving as Vice Chair and Reverend Dr. Francis O. S. Tabla as Vice Chairman for Operations.

The formation of the committee is part of efforts to implement Liberia’s Diaspora Strategic Plan (2024–2027), which was presented during the first cabinet retreat presided over by President Joseph N. Boakai Sr.

The plan aligns with the government’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID) and underscores the administration’s commitment to engaging Liberians in the diaspora.

The Office of Diaspora Affairs stated that it is mandated to coordinate, follow up, and implement the President’s commitments to diaspora Liberians, including organizing a national Diaspora Conference in 2026.

A National Steering Committee has been established to oversee the planning and organization of the conference. The committee will be chaired by the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs through its Diaspora Office and co-chaired by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Diaspora Desk.

Membership of the steering committee spans a wide range of institutions, including government ministries, civil society organizations, diaspora groups, and international partners.

Key institutions represented include the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Information, National Investment Commission, Ministry of Commerce, Liberia Chamber of Commerce, Liberia National Police, Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC), Ministry of Health, Ministry of Local Government, and the Liberia Immigration Service.

Legislative bodies such as the Senate and House of Representatives Diaspora Committees are also represented, along with private sector and academic institutions, including the Liberia Business Association (LIBA) and the University of Liberia Diaspora Center.

International partners, including the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and United Nations agencies such as UNDP, are also part of the initiative. Diaspora organizations, including the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas (ULAA), will play a key role in the process.

The Planning Committee further includes several prominent individuals assigned to specific roles. Mr. Paul T. Lamin will chair the Finance Committee, assisted by Mr. Koikoi Boiwu, while Mrs. Robina Vincent will lead fundraising efforts. Hon. Emmanuel Wettee will head Diaspora Engagement, and Mr. Terry Quio will oversee logistics. Mr. Alpha Tongor will serve on the Conference Secretariat, alongside other members.

The release noted that the steering committee will be structured into subcommittees, all operating under the leadership of Ambassador Dunn, Ambassador Cooper, and Reverend Dr. Tabla. The committee will be responsible for organizing the conference as a public-private partnership initiative involving stakeholders both in Liberia and abroad.

The Office of Diaspora Affairs emphasized that participation in the initiative is voluntary.

“This is a volunteer initiative, not an employment with the Liberian Government,” the statement clarified.

The release was approved by the Head of the Office of Diaspora Affairs, Erasmus Tiampa Williams, who reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening diaspora engagement and collaboration for national development.