Africa-Press – Liberia. Bentol City, Montserrado — The Deputy Minister for Budget and Development Planning at the Ministry of Finance, Madam Tanneh G. Brunson, has said inclusive decision-making is crucial to national development drive.
Addressing a one-day District and County consultation engagement in Bentol City, Madam Brunson said the government’s approach to development has been shaped by extensive consultations with a broad spectrum of citizens.
Said Madam Brunson, “President Boakai believes that to genuinely participate and take ownership of any development projects or programs, we must shift away from the traditional way of planning where policymakers sit in offices and decide what people’s priorities should be.”
The consultative engagement was a significant event aimed at shaping Liberia’s future with support from international partners like the United Nations and the government of Sweden.
It brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including government officials, development partners, civil society representatives, and local residents, and highlighted a collaborative approach to addressing the country’s development plan.
She stressed the importance of involving civil society actors and citizens in development processes aimed to ensure that development initiatives aligned with the actual needs and desires of the population.
She added, “We all know that district and county consultations are ongoing,” she stated. “These discussions, which involve the broadened sectors—comprising ministries, agencies, and commissions—are essential to charting the country’s direction over the next five years.”
Madam Brunson reassured participants that their inputs would be consolidated and reviewed before being validated. “Your contributions are invaluable, and we will ensure that what you said is captured in the final document,” she affirmed.
Also speaking, United Nations Resident Coordinator, Dr. Clement Lugala, lauded Boakai-Koung administration for the commitment in transforming the lives of Liberians especially demonstrating leadership and taking ownership of the process.
Accordingly, he emphasized the critical role of the ARREST Agenda in promoting sustainable development and Identifying the country’s development priorities.
“It must be anchored on international commitments, particularly the SDG Transitions, which will accelerate Liberia’s progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The change will be most visible in the counties, making county-level contributions of utmost importance.”
He added, “The consultations demonstrate the government’s commitment to developing a plan that leaves no one behind. The importance of this consultative process cannot be overemphasized. It captures the aspirations and priorities of Liberians and will guide transformative development for the country.”
He emphasized that the United Nations remained committed to working with the government, private sector, and civil society organizations to achieve Liberia’s developmental goals.
“We will support Liberia’s transformation and renewal, guided by the principles of effective development cooperation, which include strengthening ownership, deepening mutual accountability, and ensuring the sustainability of development for all Liberians,” Dr. Lugala said.
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