PRESS RELEASE. Ministry of Education Warmly Welcomes ECOWAS Health Committee Delegation on Courtesy Visit

By Prince Miller 

August 4,2025

Monrovia, Liberia 

Strengthening Regional Cooperation to Combat Drug Abuse and Promote Mental Health

The Ministry of Education today warmly received a high-level delegation from the ECOWAS Committee on Health during a courtesy visit aimed at fostering regional collaboration in the fight against drug and substance abuse, and promoting mental health awareness among youth.
Held at the Ministry’s central office within the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, Monrovia, the visit underscored ECOWAS’s strong commitment to integrating mental health support systems within educational and community structures across West Africa.

Call for Collective Action

Dr. Olando Dias Perreira, Chairman of the ECOWAS Health Committee, emphasized the urgent need to address the escalating crisis of drug abuse among the region’s youth.
> “This is not just a public health issue—it is a regional development emergency. ECOWAS is working to establish legal and policy frameworks across member states to combat this threat,” he stated.

Liberia’s Strong Commitment

Minister of Education, Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah, graciously welcomed the delegation and reaffirmed Liberia’s unwavering commitment to this critical initiative.

> “Drug abuse is a global challenge. We must act collectively, through strategic partnerships, to protect and empower our youth,” Minister Jallah emphasised.

She further announced that the Ministry will undertake a comprehensive national situation analysis to inform policy and program development—strengthening Liberia’s role in advancing regional cooperation.

Stakeholders in Attendance

The meeting brought together prominent national leaders and officials, including:

Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe (Bomi County)

Representative Samuel Enders

Hon. Maima Briggs Mensah

Dr. Samuel Toe, Deputy Minister for Planning, Research & Development

Hon. Amos A. Fully, Deputy Minister for Instruction

Hon. Nyenkeh Y. Forkpa, Deputy Minister for Administration

Other ECOWAS Health Committee representatives

The Ministry of Education commends ECOWAS for its visionary leadership and reaffirms its dedication to fostering joint efforts to address public health challenges affecting the region’s youth.