Ellen launches De-concentration Platform tomorrow

Activities leading to the official launch of the De-concentration Platform have commenced in Gbarnga, Bong County.

The government De-concentration Platform brought together superintendents, Assistant superintendents and other local government officials from Liberia’s fifteen political subdivisions.

The activities, which began yesterday, will be launched on Wednesday by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

President Sirleaf will also use the occasion to honor five chiefs who have diligently served government, as well as induct the new leadership of the Superintendent Council of Liberia.

Speaking to our Bong County correspondent, the Media Consultant at the Ministry of Internal Affairs Emmanuel Wenyou said the de-concentration exercise is being put together by twelve government ministries and two agencies to start the process of decentralization, saying the de-concentration process is an out-flow of the decentralization policy launched in Bong County in 2012.

He said government institutions have identified activities they can decentralize.

He noted that among others, the Ministry of Transport has decided to take its driver licensing activities to the counties wherein drivers in distance places will not have to go to Monrovia to obtain licenses that will require long time.

According to him, the Ministry of Internal Affairs will also decentralize the issuance of marriage certificates in the counties.

Mr. Wenyou added that the five-day exercise commenced with the training of those involved to help them clearly understand what they will be doing.

Meanwhile, former Rivercess County Superintendent Wellington Geevon Smith has welcomed the launch of the De-concentration Platform, expressing the belief that the leadership of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has started something that will give power back to the ordinary people.

Mr. Smith told our Bong County correspondent that there will be challenges in the process, but Liberians will have a lot to achieve along the way.

The host Superintendent of Bong County also expressed the belief that the election of Superintendent is something huge that will pave the way for more independent local government.

She told our Bong County correspondent that as the host county, everything was in place to ensure the success of the gathering.

The government De-concentration platform activities will end this Saturday.

By Papa Morris from Gbarnga, Bong County