LOCAL NEWS
GRAND KRU COUNTY – The Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), has launched a nationwide assessment aimed at constructing and renovating six additional county treasuries, in a major push to decentralize the country’s financial management system.
The initiative seeks to bring essential government services closer to citizens by reducing reliance on Monrovia for routine financial transactions
By: James Myking Suah
The first phase of the assessment is already underway in Sinoe and Grand Kru counties, where local authorities have identified potential sites for the new facilities. The exercise, running from April 22 to 26, will also cover Maryland, Grand Gedeh, Lofa, and Bomi counties.
A second phase is expected to begin Saturday, extending assessment activities to Maryland and Grand Kru.
Speaking during a stakeholder engagement, Sinoe County Superintendent Peter Wleh Nyensuah acknowledged the logistical difficulties involved in accessing the region, describing the visit as a strong indication of the government’s commitment to inclusive development.
“We are excited to have you here,” he said. “Traveling to this part of the country is not easy, so we truly appreciate the effort. More importantly, your presence shows that development is not only being discussed in Monrovia, but is gradually reaching the people who need it most.”
The treasury initiative forms part of a broader government strategy to deconcentrate authority and transition toward a decentralized governance structure that allows counties greater control over their financial resources.
Under the plan, key functions—including revenue collection, budget execution, and payment processing—will increasingly be handled at the county level.
For years, officials and citizens in remote areas have had to travel to Monrovia to process basic financial transactions, a system widely criticized as costly, time-consuming, and inefficient. Authorities say the establishment of county treasuries will significantly reduce these burdens while improving efficiency and transparency.
Providing further details at the engagement, Dr. Romeo Gbartea, Director of the Fiscal Decentralization Unit at the MFDP, said the selection of the six counties followed earlier assessments conducted in ten counties nationwide.
“Distance from Monrovia and limited operational capacity were major factors in our decision,” he explained. “In some cases, officials have to travel long distances just to process a single transaction. With the treasury system in place, ministries and agencies will be able to manage their financial activities directly within their counties.”
Dr. Gbartea said each treasury will serve as a centralized hub—a “one-stop shop”—for government financial services at the local level, allowing institutions to prepare requests, obtain approvals, and complete transactions more efficiently.
He added that once the current assessment is completed, the Ministry will finalize operational guidelines, recruit staff, and deploy trained personnel to the selected counties.
While construction and renovation may take time, authorities say interim measures will be introduced to ensure services begin as soon as possible.
In Sinoe County, a site near the telecommunications area has already been proposed to host both the treasury and a county service center. In Grand Kru, officials have identified the existing County Service Center as a viable location for expansion to include treasury operations.
The initiative has been widely welcomed by local stakeholders, who say it could create jobs, stimulate local economies, and improve access to essential public services. Many also believe it will strengthen accountability by ensuring financial transactions are handled more transparently at the county level.
Currently, only four counties—Grand Bassa, Nimba, Margibi, and Bong—have fully functional treasury offices. With growing population and economic activity, pressure on these facilities has increased, highlighting the need for expansion.
The initiative aligns with key national legal frameworks, including the Public Financial Management Law, the Revenue Sharing Law, and the Local Government Act, all of which support fiscal decentralization and improved governance.
As the assessment progresses, the government says it remains committed to building a financial system that is efficient, inclusive, and accessible—ensuring that citizens, regardless of location, can access essential services without unnecessary hardship.
