Legislative Caucuses have been cautioned not to intrude into county council structures in violation of the Local Governance Act of 2018. This concern is being raised by the National Civil Society Council of Liberia, Integrity Watch Liberia, the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia, Accountability Lab Liberia, and Naymote Partners for Democratic Development, who express deep dismay over the situation.
These institutions argue that the ongoing political intrusion by certain county legislative caucuses and local government authorities is undermining the county council structures that have been established across Liberia.
In accordance with Chapter 2, Subsection 2.3, and Chapter 9, Subsection 9 of the Local Government Act (LGA) of 2018, this Act serves as a cornerstone of Liberia’s decentralization policy, designed to strengthen local governance, foster accountability and transparency, and promote citizen participation in decision-making processes at the local level.
“Any attempts to undermine these efforts represent a direct affront to the democratic values and principles embodied by the Act, the 1986 Liberian Constitution, and other frameworks promoting good governance and accountability.”
County councils, as established by law, are the legitimate bodies charged with the responsibility of representing the interests of their counties, including developing local policies and overseeing the implementation and tracking of priorities and targets of citizen-driven county development agendas.
The Civil Society Organizations state that recent actions by some political actors seeking to manipulate these bodies for personal gain threaten to derail the progress made in promoting inclusive governance, transparency, and accountability at the local level. “These intrusions have manifested as 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 advocating bodies, in a joint statement, noted that the actions of some lawmakers do not bode well for ongoing and future efforts to diligently implement the LGA, its accompanying approved regulations, and other national instruments aimed at fostering transparency and accountability while placing citizens at the center of decision-making concerning the identification, allocation, and utilization of financial and non-financial resources intended to promote inclusive, transparent, and sustainable development at the county and local levels.
The undersigned and collaborating civil society organizations call on all current and prospective political actors, especially members of the Legislature and the Executive, to respect the autonomy and independence of County Councils as stipulated in the Local Governance Act of 2018. They remind them that the law clearly mandates these councils to operate independently, free from direct and indirect political interference, and guided by the collective will of the people they represent.
The groups believe that the legitimacy of these councils must be upheld, emphasizing that their autonomy should 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.
“Additionally, we urge the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) and the Legislature to take immediate steps to investigate and address these instances of political interference. Any attempts to undermine the legitimate functions of county councils jeopardize Liberia’s efforts toward democratic decentralization, weaken local governance structures, and betray the aspirations of the Liberian people for a more inclusive and accountable government,” the statement indicated.
They further encourage 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 interferences with the composition, functions, activities, and processes of County Councils and other relevant local government structures.
The Civil Society Organizations argue that 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 toward decentralization and democratic sustainability, which we need to sustain and scale up. We wish to reiterate that the success of Liberia’s decentralization process hinges on our individual and collective commitments to uphold the laws of our land and resist any direct or indirect actions that undermine the authority and independence of local governance structures, specifically the County Councils in this instance.”
The civil society organizations added that they remain resolute in their mission to promote good governance, transparency, and accountability in Liberia across all activities and processes. “We will continue to advocate for and collaborate with the government, citizens, the media, development partners, and other actors for the 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.”
