Liberia: Government of Ireland Backs Political Economy Validation Conference in Liberia

Monrovia – A national conference focused on the validation of a Political Economy Analysis (PEA) report was held on Wednesday at the Corina Hotel in Sinkor, Monrovia. 

---

By Patience M. Jones, contributingg writer

---

The event, organized by the Governance Civil Society Organizations (CSO) Consortium with funding from the Government of Ireland, forms part of the project titled “Strengthening Political Governance and Accountability in Liberia.”

The one-day conference brought together civil society representatives, government officials, local authorities, and international development partners to review and validate key findings from the PEA report. 

The report aims to support collaborative efforts toward improved governance, accountability, and public service delivery in Liberia.

The analysis was conducted by the Center for Democratic Governance (CDG), in partnership with Naymote and the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL). It focused on governance issues in Margibi, Bong, and Grand Bassa Counties, particularly in the sectors of health, education, and County Service Centers.

CENTAL Executive Director Anderson Miamen said the initiative seeks to promote decentralization and enhance accountability across public institutions. “We are determined to promote the decentralization of accountability to ensure better resource management and inclusive development,” Miamen stated.

Cyrus L. Gray, National Consultant of the Governance CSO Consortium, presented detailed findings from the PEA. He explained that the study explored both the incentives and barriers that affect service delivery. “This project provides a comprehensive overview of the structural, institutional, and relational challenges that impact political accountability,” Gray said.

He noted that the three-year initiative, supported by the Government of Ireland, is designed to strengthen service delivery systems by utilizing existing legislative and institutional frameworks. The findings, according to Gray, reveal significant challenges, including the influence of informal networks and weak institutional enforcement, which continue to obstruct effective governance reforms.

Also speaking at the event, Assistant Minister of Internal Affairs Edward K. Mulbah reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the initiative. “The Ministry of Internal Affairs is aligned with the goals of the Governance CSO Consortium and will continue to partner with them to promote improved governance and accountability at the local level,” he said.