Liberia has been officially recognized by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) as one of the most active member nations among its 227 affiliates. The recognition was announced during the recent ITTF Elective Congress held in Doha, Qatar. The Congress, which convened to elect a new President and Executive Board Members, marks a significant turnaround for Liberia. Just two years ago, the country was listed among 39 inactive member nations.
However, thanks to the efforts of the Liberia National Table Tennis Association (LNTTA), Liberia has successfully restored its active status. Reacting to the recognition, G. Gbassay Golee, President of the LNTTA and a voting delegate at the Congress, expressed pride in the milestone. “What Liberia needs now is to improve its participation in competitions and other related activities.
At the opening of the General Assembly, Liberia was officially recognized as an active member nation, signaling our return to the global stage,” he said. Mr. Golee attributed the achievement to a focused rebranding process over the past two years. “These feats were achieved through consistent effort and strategic planning,” he added. He also emphasized that his vision is to ensure stronger representation and foster international partnerships through the ITTF Congress. “We aim to be part of the decision-making processes that benefit African nations—especially by increasing technical support over the next four years and accessing other forms of assistance.”
According to Mr. Golee, Liberia was already involved in significant decision-making ahead of the elections, including discussions on referee training programs, increased access to table tennis equipment, and other developmental initiatives. In pursuit of regional collaboration, the LNTTA President is also seeking partnerships to organize regional table tennis tournaments within the Mano River Union basin, comprising Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Ivory Coast. “Our counterparts in Guinea and Sierra Leone have faced challenges with inactivity, so we are working closely with West Africa Regional Vice President Ferdinand Sounou to host regular tournaments and training sessions in any of these countries,” Golee stated.
He concluded by announcing upcoming ITTF-led training opportunities in the region. “At some points in the year, the International Table Tennis Federation is expected to host training in one of these countries, where participants from across the region can attend and benefit,” Mr. Golee concluded.
