Alhaji Kromah, who once served as a student representative on the Faculty Senate at the University of Liberia and is now a Senior Infrastructure Support Engineer/Oracle Database Administrator at various colleges and universities in Minnesota, USA, has emphasized the critical importance of empowering local governments. He believes this empowerment is essential for providing direct support to the community through the executive branch.
According to Kromah, the way Liberia’s government is set up has created some real inefficiencies and a gap between the authorities and the people. Lawmakers have been accused of meddling in local government appointments and pushing their weight around with local leaders. This interference has made it tough to provide essential services like healthcare, transportation, and law enforcement.
“Over the years, our political system has really weakened these vital governance structures. I want to stress that what we have isn’t a true political system; it’s more of a politics of self-interest. This is fueled by individuals whose power goes beyond what’s legitimate, who focus on their own ambitions, and who actively work against local government independence because they fear that effective local governance might threaten their chances of getting re-elected,” said the Minnesota-trained Data Engineer.
Kromah believes that decentralization is crucial for making sure power is shared fairly and that citizens can have a voice in the decisions that impact their lives. By giving more power to local authorities, people can have a bigger say in what happens around them. Decentralization can also boost the efficiency of public services and enhance accountability. Examples from other countries, like Rwanda and South Africa, show the potential upsides of decentralization.
To truly transform the governance system, the president needs to show some political determination by advocating for a constitutional amendment that focuses on Article 54. This amendment should include fiscal decentralization, which would empower local authorities to collect, share, and manage resources for the socio-economic development of their counties. By taking this step, Liberia can pave the way for a more effective and accountable governance system.
A former Minister of Internal Affairs, who prefers to remain anonymous, and a graduate of John Hopkins University, shared insights as a senior fellow involved in the decentralized governance initiative. He stated, “The main challenge hindering the success of local government administration is the political will from the President, along with legislative maneuvering and control over local administrative structures, compounded by the absence of a solid legal framework that supports political devolution,” as Kromah noted in his op-ed.
The former student representative emphasized that local governance is crucial for providing direct services to citizens and fostering sustainable development. By removing politics from government initiatives and empowering local authorities, Liberia can enhance the quality of public services and encourage citizen engagement. In the end, effective local governance and active citizen participation are vital for Liberia’s growth and prosperity.