By Fanta L. Keita
MONROVIA, Oct. 21 (LINA) – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has launched the Presidential Clean City Initiative, a Government of Liberia intervention aimed at improving urban sanitation and tourism appeal while creating short-term employment for young Liberians.
The initiative seeks to encourage greater community ownership of public spaces and to strengthen collaboration among citizens, youth groups, community-based organizations (CBOs) and local authorities in addressing sanitation and environmental challenges, said Deputy Minister for Press and Public Affairs Daniel O. Sando.
Speaking Tuesday, October 20, 2026 at the Ministry of Information regular press briefing, he informed the public that phase one began on October 1, 2026, covering eight counties, 14 cities and one township.
“It will engage 1,250 youths and 30 CBOs in sanitation work and environmental awareness. Government plans to extend the program nationwide in later phases,” Minister Sando said.
The targeted counties and cities include Montserrado: Monrovia and Paynesville, Nimba: Ganta, Sanniquellie and Tapeta. In Bong, the project will cover Gbarnga and Totota, while in Lofa, the project will be supported in Foya and Voinjama.
Also, the project will be undertaken in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, while in Margibi, Kakata, Unification City and Schieffelin Township will benefit from the project, and Tubmanburg, Zwedru in Bomi and Grand Gedeh Counties will be captured respectively.
According to him, phase one aims to empower 1,250 unemployed youths, where at least 40 percent of them are women who will be charged with the responsibilities of cleaning and maintaining at least 120 public spaces and 100 drainages; Support the disposal of at least 2,000 metric tons of solid waste in targeted cities; engage 30 CBOs as implementing partners; Reach at least 5,000 citizens through awareness activities that strengthen community ownership of public spaces and sanitation.
Meanwhile, he disclosed that the initiative is fully funded by the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs, adding that implementing partners include the Ministry of Local Government, the Ministry of Information, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Environmental Protection Agency, city authorities and participating CBOs.
He revealed that the Presidential Delivery Unit will independently track delivery.
The Presidential Clean City Initiative forms part of the Boakai administration’s broader efforts to improve sanitary conditions in cities and communities while giving young Liberians the opportunity to take part directly in the national development process, Min. Sando added.