By D. Abraham Cooper, Sr.
Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County ~ The Ministry of Internal Affairs on Friday, September 5, 2025, officially appointed more than 120 chiefs across Grand Gedeh County, during a formal ceremony held in Zwedru.
The event, organized by the Ministry, brought together traditional leaders, local authorities, security personnel, and officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. It marked the official presentation of appointment letters to the newly appointed and reaffirmed chiefs, in accordance with the Local Government Act of 2018.
County Superintendent Hon. Alex Chersia Grant explained that some of the appointment letters were reaffirmations for current chiefs, while others were issued to replace leaders who have passed away. He noted that the appointments fall under Section 2.15 of the Local Government Act and will remain in effect until future local elections are held.
Despite the celebratory tone of the event, concerns were raised by several chiefs regarding their lack of inclusion on the government payroll. Many disclosed that they have been serving voluntarily without any formal compensation.
Superintendent Grant acknowledged the concerns and assured the gathering that efforts are ongoing to address the issue. He confirmed that steps are being taken to formalize the process and ensure that chiefs are eventually placed on the government payroll.
Also speaking at the ceremony, Assistant Minister of Internal Affairs announced that a team from Monrovia is expected to visit Grand Gedeh in the coming weeks to carry out a re-documentation exercise. The process will involve re-profiling and biometric registration of chiefs who had previously participated in the ministry’s internal vetting program.
According to the Ministry, this exercise is a prerequisite for chiefs to be officially placed on payroll.
The appointment process was preceded by the submission of a resolution and a list of recommended names by the Superintendent to the Minister of Internal Affairs, who reviewed and approved the appointments.
Authorities are encouraging communities across Grand Gedeh to adhere to proper procedures when seeking appointments or engaging in administrative matters.
For now, the newly appointed and reaffirmed chiefs await the completion of the re-documentation process, hopeful that their years of voluntary service will soon be recognized with formal compensation.
