02/06/2026
Remarks delivered by Alaric K. Tokpa, Acting Chairman, Governance Commission at the Launch of the Policy Brief by NAYMOTE on Tuesday, June 2, 2026 (Governance Commission Conference Hall, Monrovia)
Officials of Government and Distinguished Representatives of Government Institutions; Your Excellencies Development Partners; Civil Society Leaders and Organizations; County and Local Government Authorities; Media Executives and Practitioners; ladies and gentlemen:
On behalf of the Board of Commissioners and the entire GC family, it is my distinct honor and privilege to welcome you to the Governance Commission for the official launch of this important policy brief entitled “Decentralization from Promise to Practice in Contemporary Liberia: Assessing the Functionality of County Development Agendas and County Councils in B**g, Margibi, and Grand Bassa Counties.”
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, before proceeding further, I wish to make it unequivocally clear that the Governance Commission (GC) was neither involved in the planning of this assessment nor in the collection and analysis of the data. About a month ago, the GC completed and released its own impact assessment of the decentralization process. As collaborators, our role on this occasion today is that we are partnering with NAYMOTE to host the launch of the report. Therefore, it is important to acknowledge that certain findings may be uncomfortable for some government institutions or officials. Nevertheless, as a responsible government, we must receive such reports in good faith and, where necessary, take corrective measures to strengthen governance processes.
Accordingly, the GC emphasizes that the outcomes and conclusions presented in this assessment remain the sole responsibility of NAYMOTE Partners for Democratic Development. Nevertheless, it should also be made clear that in additional to the partnership with Naymote, the Governance Commission is encouraging engagement between government and Civil Society Actors to strengthen accountability and promote sustainable growth and development in Liberia.
Today’s event is much more than the unveiling of a policy document. It represents an opportunity for national reflection on one of Liberia's most transformative governance reforms process, the decentralization of government administration, decision-making, and public service delivery. Todays event provides an opportunity to assess our progress, identify existing challenges, and renew our collective commitment to building a governance system that is responsive, inclusive, accountable, and closer to the people.
For much of Liberia's history, governance and public administration were highly centralized. Political authority, public services, and development resources were concentrated in Monrovia, often leaving local communities with limited influence over decisions affecting their welfare and development. This reality created significant disparities in service delivery, weakened citizen participation, and constrained local ownership of development processes.
Recognizing these challenges, Liberia embarked upon a decentralization agenda designed to transfer governance closer to citizens and create opportunities for local communities to actively participate in shaping their own development. The adoption of the Local Government Act of 2018 marked a historic milestone in this journey and remains one of the most important governance reforms in our country's democratic evolution. The Act represents a fundamental shift in the philosophy of governance. It recognizes that sustainable development is most effective when citizens are not merely recipients of government services but active participants in governance and decision-making. It establishes decentralization as a mechanism for strengthening democracy, promoting accountability, enhancing service delivery, and ensuring equitable development throughout the Republic.
At its core, the Local Government Act seeks to redefine the relationship between the state and its citizens by transferring authority, responsibilities, and resources to local governments while creating institutional mechanisms that enable citizens to participate meaningfully in public affairs. The Act envisions a Liberia where development priorities emerge from local communities and where governance is shaped not only from the center but through active engagement at every level of society.
Equally noteworthy has been the establishment of County Service Centers throughout the country. These centers stand as tangible evidence of decentralization in action. They have significantly improved access to government services by enabling citizens to obtain birth certificates, business registrations, permits, licenses, and other public services within their counties. For thousands of Liberians, County Service Centers have reduced the burden of traveling to Monrovia, lowered transaction costs, improved efficiency, and strengthened confidence in public institutions.
The Local Government Act also established and strengthened key local governance institutions, including County Councils, City Councils, Municipal Councils, District Development Councils, Clan Councils, and Town Councils. These institutions were designed to serve as platforms through which citizens can engage in governance, articulate development priorities, and participate in decision-making processes affecting their communities. Of particular significance is the County Council, which the Act designates as the highest decision-making body at the county level. County Councils are entrusted with the responsibility of reviewing development priorities, promoting citizen participation, and ensuring that local development initiatives reflect the aspirations and needs of county residents.
It is therefore both timely and significant that this policy brief examines the functionality of County Development Agendas and County Councils in B**g, Margibi, and Grand Bassa Counties. The assessment provides valuable evidence on the extent to which these institutions are fulfilling their mandates and contributing to the realization of the objectives envisioned by the Local Government Act.
The findings presented today invite us to reflect on important questions. Are County Councils effectively exercising their statutory responsibilities? Are County Development Agendas guiding development investments and resource allocation? Are citizens meaningfully participating in local governance processes? Are local institutions adequately resourced and empowered to perform their functions? To what extent are national commitments being translated into local realities? These questions go to the very heart of Liberia's decentralization project.
However, we should be reminded that decentralization is not an event but a process. It is not simply about creating institutions or relocating administrative functions. It is about empowering citizens, strengthening accountability, fostering local ownership of development, and improving the quality of governance and public service delivery. All these take time.
While we acknowledge the progress that has been made, we must also recognize that important challenges remain. Effective decentralization requires predictable fiscal transfers, stronger local revenue generation systems, enhanced institutional capacity, robust accountability mechanisms, and sustained political commitment. Local governments must possess not only the authority to act but also the resources and capacity necessary to fulfill their responsibilities.
As Liberia continues implementing the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, decentralization must remain central to our national development strategy. No nation can achieve inclusive and sustainable development when decision-making and opportunities remain concentrated in a few locations. Strong local governments, empowered citizens, and responsive institutions are essential ingredients for national transformation.
The GC strongly believes that decentralization, as a governance reform project, is also a state-building and peacebuilding strategy. When citizens feel represented, heard, and involved in decision-making processes, trust in public institutions grows, social cohesion is strengthened, and democratic governance becomes more resilient. The findings emerging from B**g, Margibi, and Grand Bassa Counties therefore have implications far beyond these three counties. They offer lessons for all fifteen counties and provide evidence-based recommendations that can guide future reforms, strengthen implementation of the Local Government Act, and improve the effectiveness of local governance institutions across Liberia.
On behalf of the Governance Commission, I extend sincere appreciation to NAYMOTE Partners for Democratic Development for their collaboration and commitment to strengthening democratic governance and citizen participation in Liberia. I also commend the researchers, county authorities, development partners, civil society actors, and community stakeholders whose contributions made this important assessment possible.
As we launch this policy brief today, let us recommit ourselves to the vision that inspired Liberia's decentralization agenda, a vision of a democratic state where power is shared, governance is participatory, institutions are accountable, and development is driven by the priorities and aspirations of local communities. Let this policy brief not simply become another publication on our shelves. Let it serve as a catalyst for dialogue, reform, and action. Let it challenge us to strengthen implementation, deepen citizen participation, enhance local accountability, and accelerate the realization of the objectives embodied in the Local Government Act of 2018.
Eventually, the true measure of the success of decentralization will not be found in the laws we enact or the institutions we establish. It will be found in stronger communities, better public services, greater citizen participation, and improved livelihoods for the people we serve, the people of Liberia.
May Almighty God and the Spirit of Our Ancestors Continue to Bless Liberia
