J.H. Webster Clayeh (0886729972)[email protected]
Monrovia-As pledged by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to bring the government closer to the people by launching the National policy on Decentralization and Local
Governance to ensure that citizens are active partners with government in the governance of their local communities and counties, the service centers of the first four counties have outlined progress in their reports.
Giving his report Nimba County coordinator Falikie Kromah said over the period from May to June, 2016 services were rendered with birth registration which is free been the highest recording 835, and also generating over L$200, 000 and US$445.
Jefferson Gbaryan, Coordinator for Bong County said from the April 25 to May, 622 services were rendered with birth registration which is free being the highest with 491 while revenue generated was over L$100, 000.
Sam T. Artis, Coordinator for Margibi County also said from April to May the service center had provided 1,857 services with birth certificate registration which is free being the highest with 1,489 while L$700,000 was generated in revenue.
Also the Grand Bassa service center which is the oldest center has provided 5,120 services from July 2015 to May 2016 with issuance of traditional marriage certificates generating over L$1 million. A total of over L$ 4 million was generated overall, according to Coordinator Sagacious Gardo.
The decentralization program is the transfer of power, authority and services from a centralized governing system to a lower level administration structure for the purpose of bringing services closer to the people. It has three components which are classified as political administration and fiscal and it was subsequently launched by the president in January 2012.
At the Ministry of Internal Affairs along with the Ministry of Information first quarterly press briefing on Liberia Decentralization support program held in Buchanan City, Grand Bassa County at the county service center Tuesday, the Minister of Internal Affairs Dr. Henrique F. Tokpa said the launch of the National Decentralization platform set the basis for effective service delivery.
According to Minister Tokpa at the launch of the program in 2012, an initial 14 ministries, Agencies, and Commissions were identified to deconcentrate their specialized services from Monrovia to every counties in the country.
Prior to the launch, Minister Tokpa said a rapid assessment was carried out to determine the readiness of the counties adding that several counties were identified to have some infrastructures and were refurbished.
“Our approach to create county service centers in all counties center is a one-stop shop where documentations relating to permits, licenses and certificates are offered at the same cost and quality as they are in Monrovia”, Minister Tokpa said.
The minister also disclosed that with funding from UNMIL quick-impact project, the construction work of more counties service centers are in advanced stages. He added that before the end of the year the service center will be in 13 counties.
“Government can do all, but it requires support of the citizens to take ownership and participate. I therefore urge all to make good use of the services near them”, he said.
Also speaking, Francis M. Kai-Kai, UNMIL Chief Peace Consolidation Services praised the people and the government of Liberia for the progress made at the National Decentralization and the local governance program.
According to him, as UNMIL turns over the security responsibilities to the country; people’s participation in the peace process is needed adding that with all the decentralization programs the Government of Liberia will certainly be stronger.