Prospect Dawns For Counties to Own Development Agendas -GoL Picks Expert Group Promising Radical Shift at Local Level

MONROVIA – Liberia’s chronically centralized governance system takes away focus from both the rich potential of regions and counties of the country in the development equation and the need to factor the countryside in the national agenda. That is why when most heads of counties, called superintendents, take assignment, they do so like headless snake thrown in the creek, wobbling without direction—without a plan. But it seems that may soon be history because most counties could soon be on fire with development activities as a deal has been consummated wherein each of Liberia’s provinces or counties will own their respective development agendas or plans by which central government, its partners and its assigned county officials will be guided, focused and programmed to deliver services towards ultimate prosperity. As The Analyst reports, the Ministry Finance and Development Planning has already picked a development expert organization to drive the process.

It has reported in Monrovia that the government of Liberia by and through the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning has signed an agreement with Africa Development Associates (ADMA) for the purpose of supporting and facilitating the formulation of the County Development Agendas (CDAs) for Liberia’s fifteen counties.

This effort entails that Africa Development Management Associates (ADMA) will hold countrywide consultations with stakeholders across the fifteen counties, prepare costed County Action Plan for each county, and submit these plans to the Ministry of Finance for implementation.

An ADMA press release issued noted that when completed the agendas will guide budgetary decisions of the Boakai Administration and ensure development aligns with the aspirations and ambitions of the people in the counties.

Following the signing, which took place on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, the Managing Director of Africa Development Associates (ADMA), B. Elias Shoniyin, said his organization was ready and prepared to effectively drive radical shift in the formulation of County Development Agendas (CDAs).

Mr. Shoniyin emphasized the urgent need to create the necessary economic activities that will trigger widespread prosperity across Liberia for people in the 15 counties to escape poverty.

Shoniyin, who served many years in Liberia’s Foreign Ministry before resigning as principal deputy Foreign Minister, highlighted the dire state of affairs of many Liberians in the counties, who according to him are trapped in the cycles of abject poverty and suffering.

He promised that his team would collaborate closely with the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, and Suba Belleh Associates which was also selected to facilitate the National Development Plan, to deliver comprehensive National Counties Development Agendas aimed at breaking the vicious cycle of poverty across Liberia and spurring prosperity.

The ADMA press release further said the Africa Development Associates is an indigenous Liberian firm with high-caliber professional Liberians including former Planning and Economic Development Minister, Dr. Toga Gaywea McIntosh, who is the Executive Director, and Senior Associates, including former Finance Minister Amb. Nathaniel Barnes, Former Senior Advisor at the World Bank and ECOWAS.

Other senior co-partners of the organization are Dr. Anthoney Barclay, former Liberian Ambassador to multiple countries including Saudi Arabia, Dr. Brahima Kaba, and a host of highly respected Liberian professionals.

Now selected by the MFDP, the Africa Development Management Associates will begin developing the National Counties Development Agendas, which will lay the basis for the Boakai administration’s strategy to urgently address poverty and suffering of Liberians at the county level.

The Boakai Administration is driving a 100 percent homegrown development plan under the broad umbrella of the ARREST agenda to break the poverty trap that has held Liberians captive for decades.

The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning has expressed confidence in the two indigenous Liberian firms selected for developing both the counties’ development agendas and the national development plan.