[By Pewu Y. Sumo]
Monrovia, Liberia – The Department of Press and Public Affairs of the Executive Mansion officially launched its 2025-2026 Communication Internship Program today in Monrovia.
The program, themed: “Building the Future of Public Communications Through Access, Integrity and Innovation,” is designed to equip young Liberian professionals with essential, hands-on experience in public communication, media engagement, and government transparency.
Speaking at the launch, Acting Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Samuel A. Stevquoah, emphasized that the initiative is “way more than a training exercise.” He stressed that it represents the administration’s belief that “through knowledge, through information, and active participation, put together, form the foundation of good governance.”
Minister Stevquoah highlighted the program’s role in opening the doors of the Executive Mansion to the next generation of communicators and storytellers who will positively project Liberia’s message globally.
“For too long there always existed a gap between the government and the citizens, and information has not been forthcoming, therefore, the gap has been widened,” Min. Stevquoah stated. “This program seeks to bridge that gap by equipping you young people with the tools necessary to tell our nation’s story.”
He added that effective communication is not about propaganda, but about conveying the government’s real story to the people.
Min. Stevquoah also acknowledged the dangers posed by the misuse of social media. He urged the internship applicants to use their voices to combat misinformation and disinformation that often target prominent figures, including himself.
“Now you have a look of what Sam Stevquoah looks like and sounds like, and so if someone sets up a fake social media page and starts to solicit and claim to be me, that you can help to set the record right,” he lamented. He called on the successful applicants to see it as their duty to clarify such instances.
He implored prospective interns to view the program as a vital opportunity to learn and serve the country. “You will gain real experience in news writing, digital storytelling, and media communication,” he said, but cautioned that they must communicate with integrity, empathy, and a commitment to truth.
“You today, are the bridge between the old and the new; between traditional communication and the modern digital world,” he concluded.
Minister Stevquoah affirmed that transparency remains the cornerstone of the UP-led administration.
“A government that communicates openly earns the confidence and cooperation of the people of this country. By opening up the Executive Mansion to you, young professionals, we are nurturing a culture of accountability,” he asserted. He stressed that every Liberian has the right to know what the government is doing and why.
He confirmed that President Boakai approved the program as a symbol of partnership and expressed gratitude to international partners, particularly the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), for their “steadfast” support. He also commended the Ministry of Information, the Press Union of Liberia (PUL), the Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS), and Internews for their collaboration, noting that their combined partnership demonstrates a shared belief that “an informed citizenry is the strongest foundation of our democracy and also our development.”
The Acting Minister of State asserted that every Liberian has the right to know what the government is doing and why. He expressed the Executive Mansion’s hope that the prospective interns will tell the government’s stories in a transparent way, keeping the public well-informed.
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