06/09/2026
Government Brings Decentralization Agenda Directly to Liberian Communities as ‘Taking Government to the People’ Reaches Another Five Counties
The Government of Liberia has taken another major step toward deepening decentralized governance, bringing senior national officials directly into communities across five counties under Phase II of its flagship “Taking Government to the People” initiative.
Led by the Ministry of Local Government, the initiative has been completed in Rivercess, Grand Bassa, Gbarpolu, Bomi and Grand Cape Mount counties, providing citizens with an opportunity to engage directly with national officials on issues affecting their communities.
The tour has emerged as an important platform for strengthening the relationship between central government and citizens while ensuring that development priorities are identified from the county level.
Through town hall meetings, community discussions and institutional visits, the government team listened to citizens, explained national policies and programs, and assessed challenges confronting county administrations and traditional leadership.
The initiative is anchored in the belief that effective governance requires the government to be accessible to the people and responsive to their everyday concerns.
Across the counties visited, citizens expressed appreciation for several government interventions, including the distribution of yellow machines, efforts to combat illicit drugs, women’s empowerment programs, free elementary education and initiatives aimed at strengthening local governance.
At the same time, the engagements created space for communities to openly identify areas where additional government attention is needed, reinforcing the initiative’s role as both a listening exercise and a mechanism for improving public service delivery.
Among the issues raised were the payroll status and salaries of traditional chiefs, inadequate security logistics, delays in county development funds, social development contributions from concession companies, coordination challenges among county authorities and the need to strengthen County Service Centers.
IN RIVERCESS: GOVERNMENT REINFORCES PEACE AND LOCAL GOVERNANCE
Rivercess County was the first stop on the Phase II tour, where Deputy Minister for Local Government and Decentralization Hon. Edward K. Mulbah emphasized the government’s concern about peace and security.
Deputy Minister Mulbah also used the engagement to educate citizens on the different categories of districts established under the Local Government Act, explaining the distinction between administrative and electoral districts while noting that statutory districts had been dissolved.
He further outlined fiscal, policy and administrative decentralization, giving residents a clearer understanding of how the government intends to bring decision-making, resources and administrative responsibilities closer to local communities.
Citizens in Rivercess welcomed several government interventions, particularly the distribution of yellow machines, the fight against illicit drugs and women’s empowerment initiatives, including grants provided through the Ministry of Gender.
Traditional leaders, however, raised concerns about some chiefs reportedly being removed from the government payroll despite continuing to perform their traditional responsibilities.
The chiefs also called for the reinstatement of the traditional school, highlighting the importance of preserving and strengthening traditional leadership institutions.
In response, Deputy Minister Mulbah maintained that chiefs were currently on the government payroll and explained that some payment difficulties could be connected to chiefs failing to open the required bank or savings accounts.
He committed to communicating the concerns to Local Government Minister Hon. Francis S. Nyumalin for prompt intervention.
IN GRAND BASSA: GOVERNANCE, PEACE AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT TAKE CENTER STAGE
In Grand Bassa County, discussions once again focused on peace, security, decentralization and the strengthening of local government.
Deputy Minister Mulbah continued the sensitization on district classifications under the Local Government Act while explaining the fiscal, policy and administrative dimensions of decentralization.
Citizens commended the government’s efforts in the fight against illicit drugs, the distribution of yellow machines and the provision of free elementary education across the country.
Concerns were also raised over the salaries of traditional chiefs, with citizens reporting that compensation had been reduced from US$200 to US$80, alongside Liberian-dollar payments.
Another concern was the absence of the National Disaster Management Team in the county, an issue that citizens identified as requiring government attention.
Deputy Minister Mulbah reiterated that chiefs were on the payroll and again explained that payment challenges could in some instances be linked to failure to open the required accounts.
He pledged to elevate the concerns to the Minister for further consideration.
National Peace Ambassador Eric Quaqua used the Grand Bassa engagement to reinforce one of the strongest messages emerging from the entire tour: development must be built on peace and stability.
Ambassador Quaqua urged citizens to protect Liberia’s peace and work with the government in confronting the country’s drug problem, stressing that communities cannot fully benefit from development in an atmosphere of insecurity.
PUTTING LOCAL GOVERNMENT ON A STRONGER LEGAL FOUNDATION
The Grand Bassa engagement also provided an opportunity for Assistant Minister for Urban Affairs Eddie C. Dilah to explain the government’s approach to city and township classification.
Assistant Minister Dilah disclosed that Liberia previously had 141 cities, but fewer than 20 are now officially recognized as cities, while the number of townships has fallen from 295 to fewer than 22.
He explained that the reduction is connected to government efforts to ensure that local administrative areas meet the requirements established under the Local Government Act.
Under the requirements presented during the engagement, an area seeking city status must have a population of at least 10,000 residents and meet basic-service requirements, while township status requires a population of at least 5,000.
The proposed allocations presented during the engagement are US$60,000 for primary cities, US$30,000 for secondary cities and US$20,000 for townships.
The clarification forms part of a wider government effort to create a more orderly, legally grounded and functional local governance system capable of delivering services and managing development at the community level.
IN GBARPOLU: SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AND LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS
In Gbarpolu County, the government’s decentralization message was matched with a strong focus on human-capital development and the need to equip citizens with practical skills.
Deputy Minister Mulbah called on the Gbarpolu County Vocational Training Center to offer courses that directly respond to the needs of residents and the county’s growing workforce.
During his tour of the center, the Deputy Minister told Superintendent Zinnah that the institution should be equipped to provide practical training capable of benefiting residents and supporting the county’s economic ambitions.
The visit underscored the government’s recognition that decentralization is not only about administrative structures but also about ensuring that citizens outside Monrovia have access to opportunities that can improve their livelihoods.
Superintendent Zinnah disclosed that preliminary negotiations had been held with 4Life for the company to extend one of its branches to Gbarpolu County.
Although the discussions have not yet produced a concrete arrangement, the county administration is continuing to engage companies operating in Gbarpolu to explore possible support for the vocational training center and related development initiatives.
Citizens in Gbarpolu also commended women’s empowerment programs, the placement of chiefs on the government payroll and the distribution of yellow machines.
However, citizens identified disunity among some county authorities, particularly between the Superintendent and City Mayor, as a concern requiring attention.
They also raised concerns about inadequate Liberia National Police logistics, particularly mobility, while development contributions from companies operating in the county were cited as another challenge.
Citizens specifically complained about delays in development-fund payments from companies such as Western Cluster, with a recommendation emerging for a fixed period within which companies should make their development contributions.
IN BOMI: PROTECTING PEACE TO PROTECT DEVELOPMENT
In Bomi County, the government’s engagement took on an especially strong peace and security dimension.
Deputy Minister Mulbah reiterated the government’s commitment to peace and security while continuing the sensitization of citizens on the Local Government Act and decentralization.
Residents raised serious security concerns, including an incident involving a Paramount Chief who was reportedly stabbed and had his motorbike taken.
Members of the Governors’ Council also raised concerns about payroll coverage, reporting that only two governors were on payroll, while several Paramount Chiefs said they were not receiving payroll coverage.
Deputy Minister Mulbah again explained the government’s position that chiefs were on payroll and noted that payment challenges could result from failure to open the required bank or savings accounts.
He promised to refer the concerns to the Minister for prompt intervention.
National Peace Ambassador Quaqua used the Bomi engagement to make a renewed appeal for citizens to protect the peace and cooperate with government efforts to address security and drug-related concerns.
His message resonated with the broader objective of the tour: that Liberia’s development ambitions must be protected by citizens who are committed to peace, stability and constructive engagement.
GRAND CAPE MOUNT: STRENGTHENING SERVICES AND COUNTY DEVELOPMENT
Grand Cape Mount County presented another important set of governance, development, revenue and service-delivery issues for the government delegation.
Citizens raised concerns about Kinjor Mining Company, delays and alleged refusal by companies to provide social development funds, particularly Western Cluster, as well as delays in the disbursement of County Development Funds.
The county administration was commended for its cooperation with young people, while traditional chiefs raised concerns about payroll inclusion and requested additional mobility support.
Revenue collection from Western Cluster was also identified as an issue requiring attention.
The County Service Center also featured prominently in the engagement, with attention drawn to the services it provides, including birth certificates and licenses.
Deputy Minister Mulbah explained that delays in County Development Funds were partly connected to counties failing to submit the required concept notes.
He also announced plans to develop and improve County Service Centers, including a proposed modern 32-apartment service-center building and improvements to the software supporting service-center operations.
County Service Center coordinators are also expected to receive training as part of the effort to strengthen service delivery at the local level.
The Grand Cape Mount engagement further highlighted the need for stronger coordination between national institutions and county authorities, particularly in the mining sector.
Superintendent Kaitamba raised concerns about inadequate coordination between the Ministry of Mines and Energy and county authorities, including situations in which mining licenses can reportedly be issued without sufficient consultation with local authorities.
The concern, according to the county administration, is that mining operations may proceed without adequate attention to county-level priorities and benefits.
The delegation also visited the County Service Center in Grand Cape Mount as part of its field activities.
A GOVERNMENT THAT LISTENS
Beyond the individual county issues, Phase II of “Taking Government to the People” has demonstrated the value of bringing national officials directly into communities.
The tour’s objectives included bringing the central government closer to citizens, giving communities an opportunity to communicate their concerns directly to officials, explaining government policies and programs, promoting public understanding of decentralization and strengthening communication between county authorities and the Ministry of Local Government.
The engagements have also enabled the government to identify challenges affecting county administrations, traditional leadership and public services while promoting peace, security and citizen participation in national development.
For the Ministry of Local Government, the tour represents a practical expression of decentralization taking governance beyond policy documents and government offices and placing it directly within communities.
The initiative has simultaneously provided citizens with a platform to acknowledge government interventions that are making an impact while openly discussing areas where improvements are still required.
From yellow machines and free elementary education to women’s empowerment, anti-drug efforts and local governance reforms, citizens across the five counties recognized areas in which government interventions are reaching communities.
At the same time, the concerns raised about security, traditional leadership, development funds, concession agreements, county coordination and service delivery provide the government with valuable information for further action.
The government’s ability to hear these concerns directly from citizens is one of the central strengths of the “Taking Government to the People” approach.
As Phase II concludes its engagements across Rivercess, Grand Bassa, Gbarpolu, Bomi and Grand Cape Mount, the initiative is reinforcing a simple but powerful principle: development is most effective when government and citizens work together.
With peace, citizen participation, stronger local institutions, practical skills development and improved service delivery at the center of the agenda, the Government of Liberia is positioning decentralization as a pathway toward a more responsive and people-centered system of governance.
The tour therefore stands not merely as a series of county visits, but as a continuing commitment to listen, engage, explain, respond and bring government closer to the people it serves.
