By Jamesetta D Williams
Monrovia-Information Minister Daniel O. Sando has outlined several government activities, including efforts to expand electricity access, new appointments by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr., local government capacity building, judicial cooperation with France, agricultural training and the automation of public-sector audits.
Sando made the disclosure Tuesday during the Ministry of Information’s regular press briefing in Monrovia.
Sando said electricity access in Liberia has increased from 32 percent to 39 percent, as the government continues efforts to connect more counties and communities to the national electricity grid.
He said the Liberia Electricity Corporation recently concluded a two-day technical assessment in Bomi and Grand Kru counties as part of efforts to expand electricity access to communities along the Lofa Bridge corridor and other areas.
According to Sando, the assessment included inspections of public and private facilities identified as potential connections to the national grid.
The facilities include hospitals, a sports stadium, administrative buildings, businesses and other essential institutions.
He said the technical team assessed the feasibility of extending electricity lines and developing distribution networks along the Lofa Bridge corridor.
In Grand Kru County, the delegation also held a town hall meeting with community leaders, traditional authorities and youth representatives to discuss plans for connecting communities to the national grid.
Sando also announced several appointments made by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr., affecting the Office of the Ombudsman, the Internal Audit Agency and the Ministry of Local Government.
According to Sando, Antonio Martin has been appointed Acting Chairperson of the Ombudsman Commission, while David A. Kpeman has been appointed Acting Director General of the Internal Audit Agency.
Emmanuel A. Lomax has also been appointed Acting Deputy Minister for Public Affairs at the Ministry of Local Government.
Sando said the appointments are subject to confirmation by the Liberian Senate.
He added that President Boakai has instructed the appointees to discharge their responsibilities with professionalism, integrity and leadership in service to the country.
Meanwhile, Sando said the Ministry of Local Government’s Gender and Social Inclusion Unit is conducting a capacity-building workshop focused on gender-inclusive, accountable and responsive service delivery at the local level.
The workshop, being held in Gbarnga, Bong County, brings together local government officials, County Service Center coordinators and county council members from five counties.
Sando said the training is intended to strengthen participants’ capacity in gender-sensitive service delivery while improving institutional performance, coordination, accountability and responsiveness within local government structures.
The training covers planning and coordination, service delivery, monitoring and reporting, stakeholder engagement, accountability, problem-solving and performance management.
Sando further disclosed that Chief Justice Justice Yamie Quiqui Gbeileh held a high-level meeting in Paris with the First President of the Court of Cassation of France to explore judicial cooperation and institutional partnerships between Liberia and France.
He said the meeting, facilitated by Liberia’s Ambassador to France, focused on judicial cooperation, institutional development, professional exchanges and strengthening the rule of law.
According to Sando, the Liberian delegation expressed interest in benefiting from French experience in judicial administration, training, digital case management, judicial ethics, alternative dispute resolution and institutional accountability.
The two sides also discussed possible cooperation between the James A. A. Pierre Judicial Institute and its French counterpart, including training, professional exchanges and capacity-building opportunities for Liberian judges and magistrates.
Sando said the discussions also covered the possibility of establishing a long-term institutional relationship between Liberia’s Supreme Court and France’s Court of Cassation.
The proposed cooperation could include reciprocal judicial visits, knowledge exchange and cooperation in relevant international judicial forums, he said.
Liberia has also proposed a memorandum of understanding to provide a framework for sustained judicial cooperation between the two institutions.
Sando also announced that 14 Liberian agriculture instructors are expected to travel to the University of Science and Technology in Ghana for a one-year advanced training program in agricultural education.
He said the program is designed to strengthen the instructors’ technical and teaching skills so they can return better equipped to support Liberia’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training sector.
The training opportunity is being provided through a European Union-funded project implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization.
Meanwhile, Sando said the General Auditing Commission (GAC) has launched an initiative aimed at transitioning to an automated audit system.
He said the commission recently held an initial engagement meeting with KPMG, the firm contracted to develop the commission’s audit software.
According to Sando, the audit automation program is the first of its kind in Liberia and is being supported by the World Bank through the Governance Reform and Accountability Project.
During the engagement with the GAC management team, Liberia’s Auditor General welcomed the KPMG team and reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to working collaboratively to ensure the successful implementation of the project.
Sando said the initiative is expected to strengthen audit processes, improve efficiency and enhance accountability within Liberia’s public financial management system.
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