Gov’t generates over US$20,000 from Service Center

Officials of the Governance Commission or GC have disclosed here that the government decentralization program has generated over US$20,000 and more than 100, 000 Liberian Dollars.

Governance Commission program manager, Mr. Abraham Yean, disclosed that the recently dedicated Service Center in Grand Bassa County has generated over US$20,000 plus more than 100,000 Liberian dollars.

The Service Center is expected to provide 21 services, including processing of birth certificates, driver licenses, land deeds and payment of taxes, among others.

Mr. Yean said since the Center was dedicated, it has been offering services to the people, saying the income generated is from July to December, 2015. He made the disclosure recently in Monrovia, while paying a courtesy visit to the Grand Bassa Service Center.

Mr. Yean stressed a need for members of the 53rd Liberian Legislature to enact the decentralization bill before the body, instead of the local bill. According to him, the essence of the decentralization Act is to continue with implementation of governmental projects across the country.

The program manager stressed that if members of the Legislature will take into consideration the passage the decentralization bill, it will help to respond to many needs of citizens, adding that in order to alleviate poverty, and other difficulties from the faces of the citizens, members of the legislature must commit themselves to the passage of the decentralization Act for the growth and development of the country.

He also spoke of need to build a critical mark of government plan for development through decentralization. Speaking in Gbarnga Bong County on Monday, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf acknowledged tremendous progress already made by her administration, but said there was still a long way to go.

President Sirleaf made the acknowledgement at the Gbarnga City Hall on Monday, April 25, when she officially opened the Bong County Service Center. The Liberian Leader expressed gratitude to partners, particularly the Swedish government, the United Nations, citizens and local authorities for their support and efforts.

Meanwhile, Governance Commission Chairman Dr. Amos Sawyer, has emphasized that the County Service Centers are the first stage of the decentralization process, which seeks to bring the government to the people.

By Lewis S. Teh