MONROVIA — Five of Liberia’s high-profile Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have expressed concern and strongly condemned what they describe as ongoing political interference undermining county council structures by some members of the 55th Legislature and the Executive Branch.
The CSOs include the National Civil Society Council of Liberia, Integrity Watch Liberia, Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia, Accountability Lab Liberia, and Naymote Partners for Democratic Development. The organizations jointly addressed a news conference on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, in Monrovia.
Reading the joint statement, Mr. Harold Marvin Aidoo, Executive Director of Integrity Watch Liberia, asserted that the institutions have closely observed political interference by certain legislative caucuses and local government authorities aimed at weakening county council structures established under the Local Government Act (LGA) of 2018, specifically Chapter 2, Subsection 2.3, and Chapter 9, Subsection 9.
Reports have surfaced alleging that certain legislators are attempting to remove John Alexander from the Nimba County Council due to his outspoken stance on corruption. The move is seen as an effort to give the Nimba legislative caucus unfettered access to ArcelorMittal funds designated for the county.
The CSOs stressed that the Local Government Act is a cornerstone of Liberia’s decentralization policy, designed to strengthen local governance, foster accountability and transparency, and promote citizen participation in decision-making at the local level.
They emphasized that any attempt to undermine these efforts represents a direct affront to the democratic values and principles embedded in the Act, the 1986 Liberian Constitution, and other governance frameworks.
According to the CSOs, county councils, as established by law, are the legitimate bodies responsible for representing their counties’ interests, developing local policies, overseeing implementation, and tracking priorities set by citizen-driven county development agendas.
“Unfortunately, recent actions by some political actors who seek to manipulate these bodies for personal gain threaten to derail the progress made in promoting inclusive governance, transparency, and accountability at the local level,” Mr. Aidoo noted.
The CSOs further highlighted that these political intrusions, involving undue interference in council activities, coercion of council members, and unilateral decision-making, violate the spirit and intent of the Local Government Act.
In their recommendations, the joint CSOs called on all political actors, especially members of the Legislature and the Executive, to respect the autonomy and independence of county councils as stipulated in the Local Government Act of 2018.
“We remind them that the law clearly mandates that these councils are to operate independently, free from direct and indirect political interference, and guided by the collective will of the people they represent,” they said.
The CSOs emphasized that the legitimacy of county councils must be upheld and warned against compromising their autonomy for personal or partisan agendas at the expense of good governance and the collective will of the people.
They also urged the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the 55th Legislature to immediately investigate and address instances of political interference in the councils.
The group stated that any attempt to subvert the legitimate functions of county councils undermines Liberia’s efforts toward democratic decentralization, weakens local governance structures, and betrays the aspirations of the Liberian people for a more inclusive and accountable government.
Mr. Aidoo, on behalf of the group, also called on other civil society organizations, community-based organizations, traditional leaders, the media, and all well-meaning Liberians to remain vigilant and speak out against current and future interference with the composition, functions, and activities of county councils and other local government structures.
“Civil society remains resolute in its mission to promote good governance, transparency, and accountability in Liberia. We will continue to advocate for and collaborate with the government, citizens, the media, development partners, and other actors to ensure the full implementation of the Local Government Act,” Aidoo added.
The press conference saw representation from prominent civil society figures, including Madam Loretta Alethea Pope, Chairperson of the National Civil Society Council of Liberia, Mr. Lawrence Yealue, Executive Director of Accountability Lab Liberia, Mr. Anderson D. Miamen, Executive Director of the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia, and Mr. Eddie Jarwolo, Executive Director of Naymote Partners for Democratic Development.
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