Ministry of Youth and Sports Holds Strategic Partnership Meeting with Groupe Guicopres to Advance Youth Empowerment and Sports Development
Ministry of Youth and Sports Holds Strategic Partnership Meeting with Groupe Guicopres to Advance Youth Empowerment and Sports Development
Paynesville, Liberia –July 14,2026-The Ministry of Youth and Sports (MYS) has reaffirmed its commitment to attracting strategic investments that will expand opportunities for young people and accelerate sports development across Liberia during a high-level engagement meeting with the delegation from Groupe Guicopres yesterday at the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Speaking during the engagement with a delegation from Groupe Guicopres, Acting Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon. Laraamand Nyonton, said the Ministry is implementing its 10-year Institutional Transformation Plan, known as the Pathways Initiative, to reposition the institution as a results-oriented, data-driven ministry dedicated to youth empowerment and sustainable national development.
Hon. Nyonton explained that the Pathways Initiative is aligned with the Government of Liberia's ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID) and focuses on institutional reform, capacity building, decentralization of services to all 15 counties, youth empowerment, sports development, and the growth of the creative economy.
He noted that with nearly 75 percent of Liberia's population under the age of 35, investing in young people is critical to the nation's long-term economic growth and social transformation.
During the engagement, the Acting Minister unveiled a conceptual design of the Ministry's proposed National Youth Center, envisioned as a modern, multi-purpose youth development hub.
The proposed facility features a football pitch, basketball and tennis courts, a children's playground, parking facilities, a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) center, a recording studio, a first aid clinic, administrative offices, and other essential amenities. He described the project as a "one-stop center" that will integrate sports, skills development, innovation, and youth services under one roof.
Hon. Nyonton said the Ministry is seeking strategic investment to replicate similar youth and sports hubs across Liberia. To advance the initiative, he proposed the establishment of a joint technical working group between the Ministry of Youth and Sports and Groupe Guicopres. He named Deputy Minister for Sports G. Andy Quamie as the Ministry's ex officio representative and indicated that two technical officers from the Department of Sports would join the committee alongside representatives from Groupe Guicopres to begin technical discussions.
He emphasized that the Government's responsibility is to create an enabling environment that attracts credible investors, while technical planning and project implementation are carried out through collaboration between government institutions and development partners.
Responding on behalf of Groupe Guicopres, the company's Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Kerfalla Person Camara, reaffirmed the group's commitment to partnering with the Government of Liberia, particularly the Ministry of Youth and Sports, to support initiatives that create meaningful opportunities for young people and contribute to national development.
Mr. Camara recalled that Groupe Guicopres' first major government contract was the renovation of Guinea's historic "28 September" National Stadium. According to him, this facility successfully met the Confederation of African Football (CAF) certification requirements. He noted that the company has more than 28 years of experience in designing and constructing world-class sports infrastructure, including stadiums, football academies, and other recreational facilities across Africa.
He said Groupe Guicopres stands ready to bring that expertise to Liberia, emphasizing that investment in youth empowerment, sports infrastructure, education, and talent development is essential to building a productive, resilient, and prosperous nation.
Mr. Camara also disclosed that they had earlier met with President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and held discussions with the National Investment Commission (NIC) to explore potential investment opportunities and areas of collaboration in Liberia.
He commended the Ministry's Pathways Initiative, describing it as a visionary framework that provides a clear roadmap for institutional transformation, youth development, sports advancement, and inclusive economic growth.
Mr. Camara concluded by reaffirming Groupe Guicopres' readiness to work closely with the Ministry of Youth and Sports to deliver transformative projects that empower young Liberians, strengthen the country's sports ecosystem, expand opportunities within the creative economy, and contribute to Liberia's sustainable development.
