Decentralizing Liberia’s Development

A four days workshop on the Local Development Fund project implementation review for Sinoe, Grand Bassa and River Gee County, which started on Monday, March 28th, 2011 at the University of Liberia auditorium, has ended.

The workshop was attended by officials of various counties, local governments and heads of the LDF projects. During the workshop, participant looked at the additions of new tactics to enhance the progress of the decentralization program.

The policy of government to decentralize the development activities of the country has received advancement in South Eastern Liberia, involving three counties. Various counties embarked on projects in their counties from the fund provided them by Liberia’s international partners.

The citizens of River Gee embarked upon three projects from the fund provided to them  from the UNDP-LDLD projects, the same list of projects are implemented by citizens of Sinoe County, projects are Cassava planting, swamp rice, and others.

According to Saylee Swen, a member of the River Gee County Development team, explained the following during his county report. He said the county had completed 80% of the of the cassava project it started few months back, adding that the Swamp Rice was not far from being harvested.

The county is currently operating others projects in line with the decision of the citizens of the county under the Local Development fund project, Swen explained.

According to Mr. Barley Togba, Grand Bassa County has implemented three projects, the Cassava project, Pineapple project and Swamp Rive project. Togba  said, the county is making sure that the opportunity in their hands benefit the county in term of employment, education and other positive aspect.

According to the participants, they are calling on their international partners to consider the transportation of materials from Monrovia to their counties.