MONROVIA, Liberia — Youth and Sports Minister Cornelia W. Kruah has accused some civil servants and private-sector employees of enrolling in the government’s National Cadet Program and collecting a monthly US$150 stipend intended for students and recent graduates.
Kruah said the ministry will identify those who allegedly benefited despite being ineligible, publicly disclose their names and demand the full repayment of all money they received.
The minister made the allegation Tuesday in a post on her official Facebook page. She did not disclose how many people are suspected of violating the program’s eligibility requirements or the total amount of money allegedly paid to them.
According to Kruah, the ministry has a monitoring team responsible for identifying participants who may have provided false or misleading information during the application process.
“We speak of corruption from Public Servants daily but corruption is really eating every fabric of our society,” Kruah wrote.
She said some government employees applied for the cadet program while already receiving salaries, while others working in the private sector also applied and were accepted.
Kruah warned that the ministry would pursue the matter.
“Here’s the promise: we will find you, we will name and shame you, and you will refund every cent you have received. The last package will be a surprise,” she said.
The minister argued that the alleged conduct is taking opportunities away from young Liberians who meet the program’s requirements but were unable to secure placements.
She described the situation as another example of the broader corruption problem in Liberia, saying the behavior often associated with public officials has become more widespread across society.
Program Required Eligibility Verification
The allegation raises questions about the vetting process used by the Ministry of Youth and Sports when the 2026 National Cadet Program was launched.
When the ministry announced the program in late March, it said all applications would undergo document vetting and verification to establish the authenticity and completeness of submitted information. It also warned that applicants who falsified documents or information would be immediately disqualified.
Applicants were required to provide proof of their student or graduation status, a national identification card or birth certificate, personal information indicating their county of origin and a passport-sized photograph.
The program was designed for final-year students and individuals who had graduated within the previous two years, with preference given to applicants residing in their home counties.
The 2026 initiative was expected to place more than 1,000 young Liberians in public and private institutions, including companies and concession areas, as National Service Associates from May 11 through October 31.
Participants were scheduled to receive a monthly stipend of US$150.
Funding for the program comes from the 2026 national budget through the Private Sector Investment Program and the National Youth Empowerment Program.
Questions Remain Unanswered
Kruah’s allegation has yet to be accompanied by details on the number of suspected ineligible participants, how they passed the ministry’s vetting process or the amount of public funds involved.
The Liberian Investigator contacted the minister via WhatsApp seeking clarification on the suspected beneficiaries, the vetting process, possible administrative or legal action and whether positions occupied by ineligible participants would be reassigned to qualified applicants who were rejected.
Kruah had not responded to the inquiry by the time of publication.
If the ministry confirms the allegations, the case could raise further questions about the effectiveness of the program’s initial screening and verification procedures, particularly given the ministry’s earlier assurances that applicants’ documents and eligibility would be thoroughly checked.
