The Liberia National Tourism Authority (LNTA) and stakeholders in the tourism sector have reviewed, consulted and validated the national policy on pageantry.
The day-long exercise was held on Friday, April 17, 2026, at a resort in Monrovia.
LNTA Board Chairman, Ambassador Christopher Hayes Onanuga said, the validation policy is a reform to reconstitute how pageantry works, and allows Liberians to globally view and trust the process.
Onaguga noted that with the validation of the policy, “there is no limitation on the rights of stakeholders in the process.”
He said, the new policy provides just and equitable avenues, and job opportunities for the youth.
“It is a movement in the right direction to reform, reconstitute and allow Liberians globally to witness a complete transformation in how pageantry is conducted and hosted. It provides the opportunity for everybody to exercise their liberty, become who they think they are once they have the talent.”
Amb. Onaguga called on Liberians to see the sector as way of showcasing the culture by wearing of Liberian custom, which will attract employment in the traditional African custom industry.
He said, with the policy validated, investors will build confidence since the document serves as a roadmap to increase stakeholders’ ownership of their franchise in the sector.
The policy, Onaguga noted, has increased stakeholders’ ownership from one to five years, precedented upon their performance in the sector.
The entity’s core objective is to provide protection to stakeholders making them to know their rights, protects their talent and patency rights, and to build and develop further talents.
“Our major concern is to ensure that this will go on well, and to provide an opportunity for people to know their rights on how to think wise, be wise and act wise.”
Onaguga meanwhile, praised stakeholders for their contribution to the document, and expressed optimism that tourism will thrive tremendously because of the new policy on pageantry.
LNTA Deputy Director, Dogba Norris, Jr. said, the policy objective is a strategic national asset for economic growth.