By: Barclay Karnley Jr
MONROVIA: Five Civil Society Organizations in Liberia including, the National Civil Society Council of Liberia, Integrity Watch Liberia, Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL), Accountability Lab Liberia and NAYMOTE Partners for Democratic Development have expressed deep concerned about ongoing political intrusion by some county legislative caucuses and local government authorities aimed at undermining county council structures that have been established across the Country.
Reading a joint statement on behalf of the CSOs, the Executive Director of Integrity Watch Liberia, Harold Aidoo, said the establishment of the County Council is in accordance with Chapter 2, Subsection 2.3, and Chapter 9, Subsection 9 of the Local Government Act (LGA) of 2018.
The CSOs joint statement further noted that the Local Government Act is a cornerstone of Liberia’s decentralization policy, designed to strengthen local governance, foster accountability and transparency, and promote citizens’ participation in decision-making processes at the local level.
The statement stressed that any attempts to undermine these efforts represent a direct affront to the democratic values and principles that the Act, 1986 Liberian Constitution, and other good governance and accountability frameworks embody.
“The county councils, as established by law, are the legitimate bodies charged with the responsibility to represent the interests of their counties, including developing local policies and overseeing implementation and tracking of priorities and targets of citizens-driven county development agendas.
The Integrity Watch Liberia Executive Director further disclosed that recent actions by some political actors in the Country who seek to manipulate these bodies for personal gains threaten to derail the progress made in promoting inclusive governance, transparency, and accountability at the local level.
He, however, noted that these intrusions have taken the form of undue interferences in council activities, coercion of council members, and the imposition of decisions without proper consultation, which violate the spirit and intent of the Local Government Act.
The CSOs maintained that these developments do not augur well for ongoing and future efforts to scrupulously implement the LGA, its attending approved regulations as well as other national instruments seeking to foster transparency and accountability as well as place citizens at the center of decision-making on identifying, allocating and utilizing financial and non- financial resources intended to foster inclusive, transparent, and sustainable development at the county and local levels.
The five Civil Society Organizations proffered several recommendations, calling on all current and would-be political and other actors, especially members of the Legislature and the Executive, to respect the autonomy and independence of County Councils, as stipulated in the Local Government the Act of 2018.
They are reminded County Legislatives caucuses that the law clearly mandates that these councils are to operate independently, free from direct and indirect political interference (s), and guided by the collective will of the people they represent.
The CSOs recommended that the legitimacy of these councils must be upheld; their autonomy must not be compromised by individuals and groups seeking to advance personal or partisan agendas at the expense of good governance and the collective will of the people.
Also, we call on the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) and the Legislature to take immediate steps to investigate and address these instances of political interference.
Mr. Aidoo warned that any attempts to subvert the legitimate functions of County Councils will undermine Liberia’s efforts towards democratic decentralization, weaken local governance structures, and betray the aspirations of the Liberian people for a more inclusive and accountable government.
The CSOs Furthermore urge civil society organizations, community-based organizations, traditional leaders, the media and all well-meaning Liberians to remain vigilant and to speak out against current and future interferences with the composition, functions, and activities and processes of County Councils and other relevant local government structures.
“The fight for transparent, accountable, and effective local governance is a collective one. We must not allow vested interests to erode the gains we have made towards decentralization and democratic sustainability, which we need to sustain and scale up the statement averred.”
The CSOs reiterated the success of Liberia’s decentralization process which ‘hinges on our individual and collective commitments to uphold the laws of our land and to resist any direct and indirect actions that undermine the authority and independence of local governance structures, the County Councils in this instant case’.
Civil society groups stressed that they remain resolute in its mission to promote good governance, transparency, and accountability in Liberia and in all activities and processes.
“We will continue to advocate for and collaborate with government, citizens, the media, development partners and other actors for full implementation of the Local Government Act and for the protection of the rights and interests of all Liberians, as enshrined in the Local Government Act of 2018 and other relevant laws, the CSOs Statement concluded.”
