Governance Commission pushes reform agenda for Monrovia’s sustainable growth

Published: August 15, 2025

MONROVIA – The Governance Commission (GC), in partnership with the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning and the Monrovia City Corporation, opened a two-day policy dialogue Tuesday aimed at overhauling city governance to strengthen leadership, improve coordination, and mobilize resources for Liberia’s capital.

GC Chairman Prof. Alaric K. Tokpa said the meeting is a deliberate move to create space for reflection, recalibration, and reform—not a ceremonial exercise. “Over the next two days, we will examine the legal and institutional frameworks that define Monrovia’s status within our decentralizing governance system,” Tokpa said.

He stressed that effective city administration is essential to how services are delivered, citizens are represented, and opportunities are distributed. “It is the bedrock of trust between government and the governed,” he said.

Finance Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan called for a holistic approach to budgeting and governance, urging stakeholders to measure success by the quality of services citizens receive, rather than agency performance alone. “It requires viewing budget allocations as coordinated investments, not agency competitions,” he said.

The dialogue has drawn representatives from ministries, the Liberia National Bar Association, the Center for Transparency and Accountability, the Liberia Chamber of Commerce, and the Liberia Revenue Authority. Participants will address challenges facing a rapidly growing Monrovia, including climate risks, urban expansion, and equitable service delivery, while exploring interagency coordination and innovative financing models.

Tokpa called for “a renewed compact between institutions and citizens” grounded in constitutional mandates and the promise of decentralization. He credited President Joseph Nyuma Boakai with challenging the nation to mobilize its full capacity for growth and development.

“The Governance Commission remains committed to facilitating inclusive dialogue, evidence-based policy formulation, and accountable institutional cooperation,” Tokpa said. “Monrovia’s transformation must be anchored in constitutional legitimacy, informed by global best practices, and shaped by the lived realities of its residents.”