Q&A with Liberian Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism

The Whistle spoke with keynote speaker Dr. Laurence Konmla Bropleh, minister of Information, Culture and Tourism for the Republic of Liberia briefly during the conference. With the country coming out of a multi-year internal conflict in 2006, Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf visited Georgia Tech in 2006 to help bring new technology to the African nation. During his keynote speech, Bropleh referred to Tech as his country’s top international academic partner.

What is your position with the Republic of Liberia?

I’m the minister of Information, Culture and Tourism. Basically, I’m the chief spokesperson of the country. I make sure there is fluid information flowing from the executive branch to the people of Liberia and the outside world. I also work to take information from the populace back to the executive branch of government to help inform policy making.

I also, as my title states, help develop culture and tourism. We are working toward building a first-class national arts and culture center [as well as] creating a strategic plan to boost tourism in Liberia.

For what reason did you attend the Computing at the Margins symposium?

Georgia Tech has been a real partner to Liberia for years. As the minister of Communication, I’m looking for partnership in developing information and communication technologies (ICT). I’m trying to make Liberia a post-conflict success story. To do that, we are trying to put the tools to work.

And it is not ‘computing at the margins,’ but computing for the majority. This kind of computing can help a country utilize and share information for governance.

I have proposed information-sharing technology centers, one in each of the 15 counties. The government can instantaneously deliver information—and the people can also give feedback. This will greatly aid in the de-centralization of the country’s governance structure.

Conferences like these create the contextual relevance for technology in our country.

What did you come here to say?

In my keynote I shared that technology is good, but when it cannot be used by the people it loses relevance. In looking back at President Sirleaf’s visit [to Tech in 2006], the point was made that technology must be used in a relevant way to transform the culture.

What is the greatest hurdle for Liberia as far as developing new technology?

Capacity. Conflict of the last 20 years has taken many of our people away. How do you tell them to leave what they now have in various parts of the world, being well paid and come back home to contribute?

In my visit here, I have invited Tech and other attendees to partner with Sinje Technical College in Monrovia to help us build capacity. I have also extended invitations to Microsoft and Google, which have been very receptive. The college will be groundbreaking, a great example of participatory democracy.

What do countries such as Liberia add or bring to the agenda?

Tech and others have been following my work in Liberia, and they know that I bring contextual relevance to their efforts. Liberia provides an immense opportunity for academia, and for those who want to change the world.

President Sirleaf has brought transparency and fiscal responsibility to  Liberia, which will assist in Liberia gaining partnerships. The Information Centers would help the country have sustainability, and each of our partners can help us get these up and running.

What is the next step for you?