By By: Staff Writer
USA – Assistant Minister for the Bureau of Corrections and Rehabilitation at the Ministry of Justice, Atty. Gabriel F. Ndupellar, has completed a three-week professional exchange in the United States and received a certificate from the U.S. Department of State.
The program ran from June 20 to July 11, 2026, under the Freedom 250 – U.S. State and Local Government initiative. It is part of the International Visitor Leadership Program, which convened 220 emerging leaders from around the world to mark the 250th Anniversary of U.S. Independence through eight thematic leadership tracks.
Participants examined the U.S. decentralized system of government, with a focus on how federal, state, and local institutions coordinate on public service delivery, legislative processes, and citizen engagement. The curriculum also covered intergovernmental cooperation and the role of justice, education, and healthcare systems in democratic governance, including protections for freedom of speech and expression.
The opening segment was held in Washington, D.C. Delegates attended federal briefings with senior State Department officials and visited national sites including the White House, the U.S. Capitol, and the Lincoln Memorial.
The 220 participants were divided into eight thematic groups. Atty. Ndupellar was assigned to the U.S. State and Local Government group. That cohort included officials such as an intergovernmental relations liaison from Canada’s Yukon Territory, a city mayor from Uzbekistan, a senior advisor to the Mayor of Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel, and a political strategist to the Prime Minister of Slovakia.
The group conducted field visits in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Columbus, Ohio, meeting with state agencies, municipal offices, and community organizations to observe governance and public administration in practice. The delegation later reconvened in Philadelphia for final sessions.
Representing his group, Atty. Ndupellar presented findings to the full assembly of IVLP participants. The presentation highlighted lessons on the rule of law, legislative procedure, local governance, and intergovernmental relations, based on institutions visited in North Carolina and Ohio.
Outside formal sessions, the Assistant Minister held meetings with district and federal judges, corrections administrators, and other justice sector officials. The Ministry of Justice said the engagements are intended to support future collaboration and knowledge exchange between Liberia’s corrections system and international partners.
While in the U.S., Atty. Ndupellar also met with former officers of Liberia’s Bureau of Corrections and Rehabilitation now residing in the United States. According to the Ministry, the former officers expressed support for ongoing reforms being pursued by the Bureau and the Ministry of Justice.
The Freedom 250 initiative covered seven other themes in addition to state and local government, including artificial intelligence and security, agricultural innovation, cultural heritage, entrepreneurship, constitutional legacy, science and technology, and youth in the political process.
