By Stephanie M. Duncan
Monrovia-The Liberian government through the Ministry of Local Government has commenced a two-day policy dialogue aimed at initiating arrangements to decentralize 21 government services currently concentrated in Monrovia.
The dialogue, which began Wednesday, September 16, in Paynesville, brings together representatives of government ministries and agencies, county superintendents and other stakeholders to discuss the transfer of selected government functions to Liberia’s counties.
Addressing the gathering, Deputy Minister of Local Government Edward K. Mulbah provided details about the program, including land deed processing and driver’s license services.
According to him, decentralizing the services would bring government closer to citizens and reduce the time and transportation costs associated with traveling to Monrovia to access basic public services.
Minister Mulbah said the discussions will also require ministries and agencies to identify functions that can effectively be transferred to local authorities as part of the broader decentralization process.
The dialogue is further focusing on political decentralization, including the establishment of County Councils, as well as the administrative decentralization of government institutions across Liberia’s 15 counties.
The two-day policy dialogue is scheduled to continue through Thursday, as stakeholders consider measures for transferring government services and strengthening local governance across the country..
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