Africa-Press – Liberia. The Acting Chairman of the Governance Commission (GC), Professor Alaric Tokpa, has indicated that the Commission’s Board is contemplating rewriting the Liberian Constitution to include the constitutionalization of decentralization. This proposal was announced at a training workshop for County Council members in Ganta on June 25, 2025.
Professor Tokpa emphasized the importance of decentralization and its alignment with the interests of the people of Liberia, highlighting that decentralization would empower citizens and prevent the arbitrary removal of power from the populace. He discussed the need for clarity on various forms of decentralization and underscored the GC’s intent to advance from deconcentration of power towards the devolution of power in Liberia.
“When this is approved decentralization will be constitutionalized and no government will arbitrarily decide to remove the power from the people,” Prof. Tokpa said. “Decentralization is in the interest of the people of Liberia – you are the owners of the country.”
He said, despite people saying Liberia is in the stage of deconcentration of power, the Governance Commission is in the position to move Liberia in the direction of the devolution of power.
“What we have now is de-concentration of power, but I can assure you that it is a position of the Governance Commission that Liberia will move in the direction of the devolution of power,” he said.
The Ganta training workshop, organized by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and partners, was meant to equip County Council members with strategic planning skills, budget formulation understanding, responsible resource management, and accountability in public finances.
The focus areas included fiscal decentralization, financial reporting, sustainable development planning, budget implementation, taxation, revenue sharing law, local governance practices, and public financial management mechanisms in Liberia.
The GC boss said, “This training is crucial for all County Council members, because it is designed to equip you the County Council members with the knowledge and skills required to do strategic planning, understand budget formulation, better manage public resources by making responsible expenditures and account for public finances and resources through proper reporting.
“The acquisition of these skills will enable you to make informed decisions, promote transparency and accountability, and ultimately bring happiness to the people of Liberia by improving the well – being of your respective communities and counties.”
The County Councils will be trained in fiscal decentralization, financial reporting, sustainable development and planning, budget formulation and implementation.
Other topics include, taxation, revenue sharing law and the local governance act, the mechanics of public financial management in Liberia and among others.
The training is held under the theme, ‘Fiscal decentralization and participatory governance, the basis for county development agenda’ brought together representatives from across the 15 political subdivisions of Liberia.
The Chief facilitator Dr. Romeo DN Gbartea puts the total numbers of participants to 60, excluding facilitators and partners.
He explained each county is sending four County Council representatives, including the chair, co – chair, secretary and the financial secretary.
He urged the participants to seek peace and solidarity as a pillar of moving the country’s development agenda through transparency for the best interest of the people.
Mr. Louis Kuukpen, Deputy Resident Representative of Program – UNDP urged the council to protect the public interest first as a public servant or civil servant.
“Lead our people at all levels, nationally and at community levels because you are stewards of the local government,” he said.
“Sometimes, we feel that the politicians are corrupt, but corruption starts with the little thing we are doing,” he said.
Mr. Kuukpen also admonished the participants to make use of the little resources wisely, because donors are drawing support significantly over the situation engulfing some donor countries.
It appears like the Legislature is attempting to repeal the decentralization act and bring all powers under the central government, because the decentralization act is said to narrow the authority of the legislature in their respective counties.
Prior to the enactment of the decentralization act, the Legislature presided over the County Council and other development initiatives in their respective counties.
The Project Management Committee at the time reported directly to the Legislative Caucus in the county, something that is not happening anymore.
Charged with huge tasks or responsibilities, most of the members of the County Council, especially Nimba County are elderly people who appear to have little or no knowledge on some of the financial jargons, such as fiscal budget, budget formulation/implementation, taxation, revenue sharing law and among others.
However, the leadership of the County Council in Liberia has come down strongly against any attempt by members of the Legislature to repeal the Local Government Act, especially the clause that has to do with the establishment of the county council.
The position statement read and signed by 14 chairman of the county council of Liberia, with the exception of Nimba County chairlady, urged President Joseph Nyunman Boakai not to sign any bill that has to do with the repealing of the Local Government Act, especially the clause about the establishment of the county council.
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