Bong County’s Own Development Committee Didn’t Know Its Mandate, Superintendent Admits

Published: April 15, 2026

GBARNGA, Bong County — The body responsible for steering development in Bong County has been struggling to understand its own mandate, roles and coordination responsibilities, the county’s top official acknowledged Wednesday during a capacity-building workshop convened to address the gap.

Bong County Superintendent Loleya Hawa Norris made the admission during a one-day accountability workshop organized by Naymote Partners for Democratic Development in collaboration with the Bong County Administration and local civil society organizations, bringing together more than 50 county-level stakeholders at a session held under the theme “Building Strong Accountability Framework for County Development.”

“This workshop is very timely, especially at a time when the CDSC is struggling to fully understand its roles, responsibilities, and how to coordinate across different stakeholders,” Norris said, referring to the County Development Steering Committee. “With the knowledge acquired today, we are going back with increased understanding of the significance, mandates, structures, and communication mechanisms of the CDSC and how to align our development plans with the County Development Agenda.”

Naymote Executive Director Eddie D. Jarwolo said the training was designed to close precisely that gap, equipping stakeholders with practical knowledge of the County Development Steering Committee’s processes and procedures while reinforcing the link between the County Development Agenda and the national ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development.

“This workshop will specifically empower participants with the right knowledge and skills to strengthen coordination mechanisms among stakeholders to ensure the County Development Steering Committee regularly monitors and tracks the CDA implementation,” Jarwolo said.

Participants included representatives from civil society organizations, the County Service Center, the County Council, county education and health offices, the media and persons with disabilities.

On the sidelines of the workshop, participants including County Finance Officer Silas Tokpa raised a concern that extended beyond governance structures. Several attendees called for the full decentralization of government services and flagged a sharp increase in service fees at the County Service Center, singling out the Traditional Marriage Certificate, whose cost has risen from $50 to $105, as a barrier likely to push ordinary citizens away from accessing formal services.

The workshop is part of the Embassy of Ireland-sponsored Strengthening Political Governance and Accountability Project, implemented jointly by Naymote Partners for Democratic Development, the Center for Transparency and Accountability Liberia and the Center for Democratic Governance.