GoL, partners dedicate 2 Service Centers

Dr. Sawyer and development partners cutting ribbon to the Greenville Service Center in Sinoe County In furtherance of the Unity Party-led government’s commitment to decentralize services to the people, the Government of Liberia in collaboration with development partners has dedicated two additional County Service Centers (CSCs) with a call for citizens to cherish and take ownership of the facilities.

Addressing the dedicatory ceremony in Harper and Greenville Cities, southeast Liberia over the weekend, the Chairman of the Governance Commission (GC), Dr. Amos C. Sawyer, reminds citizens of development partners’ desire to increase support to the development drives of Liberia, which he says depends on the proper management and usage of existing facilities.

“Our partners have helped us with these facilities and are very much willing to do more but they are looking at us to see how we manage and make use of these ones before adding on to them,” he says.

While in Greenville, Sinoe County, the GC chairman, who is also the Co-chair on the Liberia Decentralization Support Program (LDSP) also calls on kindsmen to lobby with their lawmakers particularly those in the Liberian Senate for the passage of the Land Right bill that has been passed by the lower house, awaiting concurrence by the senate.

He assures citizens that they stand to benefit most as the law will give them ownership over their land.
The County Service Center (CSC) is a one-stop-shop that offers dozens of services such as issuance of marriage certificates, permits and licenses.
Prior to Friday’s ceremony, Government and partners had opened eight County Service Centers in Grand Bassa, Margibi, Bong, Nimba, Gbarpolu, Grand Cape Mount, Bomi and Grand Gedeh Counties, respectively.

Implementation of the Liberia Decentralization Support Program is being carried out by the Government with funding from the European Union, Swedish Government, USAID, UNMIL and UNDP.

Friday’s 11 August dedication brings to 10, the total number of CSCs inaugurated in the space of three years. Receiving keys to the Greenville facility, Sinoe County Superintendent, Prosper K. Brown, describes the decentralization of services as a life changing moment for Liberians, vowing that he and citizens of the county will cherish the CSC to the depth of their hearts.

Superintendent Brown promises to ensure quality service delivery, observance of acceptable standards and that only qualified and reputable individuals will work at the center. “Despite delays which we did not see as denial leaves indelible print on the hearts of citizens and so we respect this and will hold it high in the county,” he pledged.
Representatives of developing partners, including UNMIL, UNDP, Swedish Government, USAID and the European Union Ambassador to Liberia, Tiina Intelmann, laud the project.
She joins previous speakers in stressing the need for proper management and usage of the center.

The provision of service centers has brought great relief to citizens in the beneficiating counties as they will no longer have to come to Monrovia to process and obtain those available services but can now get them in their respective counties. Counties that are yet to benefit from the program are: Lofa, Grand Kru, Rivergee, Montserrado and Rivercess, respectively