Liberia Chess Federation’s New Leadership Inducted

The newly elected officials to steer the affairs of the Liberia Chess Federation for the next four years were installed into office over the weekend.

Those inducted on April 16, 2022 at the Invincible Sports Park in Monrovia were Thomas Karyah, President; Gonkarte Dekpah, Vice President; Mathias Nana Walker, Financial Secretary; Tamba William Saa - Secretary General; Martin Doe, Treasurer; and Foday Konday, Chaplain.

Speaking at the induction ceremony, Finance and Development Planning Minister, Hon. Samuel D. Tweah, Jr., who is a former President of LCF, stressed the need for support to sporting bodies as it helps in building a society of peace and love. Making brief remarks before installing the LCF officials in office, Minister Tweah challenged Liberian chess players to step up their levels of competitiveness and strive to become the best at least in West Africa. He reiterated the Government’s support to Chess and other sports in the country and thanked the Chief Patron of Sports, H.E. George M. Weah, for the construction of the Invincible Sports Park, which he said will give ordinary Liberians the opportunity to relax and explore their sporting talents. The Liberian Finance Minister said Chess, a sport that builds the minds of young people, will be one of the main features of the new sports park. Minister Tweah said he will appeal to his boss, President Weah, for a special spot to be given to the noble game of chess.

Min. Tweah also urged the new leadership to use the institution to help build the capacity of Liberians.

Speaking at the program, the inducted President of the Liberia Chess Federation, Thomas Karyah, thanked his predecessor (Mr. William T. Thompson), the Government of Liberia and the chess community for the overwhelming support that led to his ascendency. He promised to use chess as a tool to help improve the lives of Liberians and to ensure that Liberia becomes one of the best chess playing countries on the continent.

Karyah and his team will manage the affairs of Chess in Liberia for four years but have the immediate challenge of reuniting the chess community, ensuring that Liberia is fully represented at the 2022 African Individual Chess Championships in Lagos, Nigeria, in June and at the 44th Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India, in July this year. The Liberia Chess Federation is also planning to host a Bicentennial Open Chess Tournament soon that will attract all of the top chess players on the continent to visit Liberia and has also been given the rights by the African Chess Confederation (ACC) to host the African Schools Individual Chess Championships in December.