By Pewu Y. Sumo
GOMPA CITY, NIMBA COUNTY – Hon. Ruth Coker-Collins, the former Minister of Public Works under the previous CDC administration, has expressed disappointment over her exclusion from the National Infrastructure Conference currently underway in Gompa City, Nimba County.
In an open letter addressed to her successor, Hon. Roland L. Giddings, the immediate past Minister raised concerns regarding the lack of an invitation to the high-profile gathering. Coker-Collins—a career engineer—emphasized that infrastructure development is a “continuous national endeavor” that should transcend political lines.
She argued that excluding former leadership and senior professionals from such events risks the loss of vital institutional memory and technical expertise. The former Minister further noted that professional inclusion ensures policy discourse is enriched by lessons learned from previous administrations, stressing that national development is a shared responsibility requiring collaboration across generations of leadership.
Despite the oversight, Madam Coker-Collins reaffirmed her commitment to supporting Liberia’s development, stating that her concerns were raised in “good faith” to improve future engagements.
As of the time of this report, the Ministry of Public Works has not yet issued a formal response to the letter.
Liberia’s first-ever national infrastructure conference officially kicked off today in Ganta. President Joseph Nyuma Boakai is expected to launch the initiative alongside other high-profile government officials. The conference is scheduled to run from January 19–23, 2026.
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