By Stephen N. Sonpon
MONROVIA, June 10 (LINA) – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai,S r. has renewed his call for sweeping decentralization and rural transformation, insisting that national development must no longer remain concentrated in Monrovia but must extend to every county, district, and community across Liberia.
Speaking at the opening of the First International Policy Roundtable on Local Governance and Rural Development in Harbel, Margibi County, President Boakai said Liberia’s long-term stability and prosperity depend on shifting power, resources, and opportunities closer to the people.
He stressed that sustainable development cannot be achieved through centralized decision-making alone, emphasizing that strong local institutions are essential for meaningful progress.
“Lasting progress must be anchored in strong local institutions, empowered communities, and responsive governance systems that bring decision-making closer to the people,” the President told policymakers, development partners, traditional leaders, and international experts gathered at the Farmington Hotel.
The high-level forum, held under the theme: “Advancing Local Governance and Rural Development for an Inclusive and Prosperous Rural Future,” brought together participants from Africa and Asia under the African-Asian Rural Development Organization (AARDO) framework.
Discussions focused on strengthening local governance systems, improving rural livelihoods, and expanding development models that prioritize agriculture, infrastructure, and community participation.
President Boakai aligned the roundtable with his government’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, describing it as the central policy framework driving decentralization, institutional reform, and rural empowerment.
He noted that the agenda seeks to strengthen institutions, promote inclusive growth, improve service delivery, expand partnerships, and build more resilient and accountable communities across Liberia.
“The true measure of national development is found in whether ordinary citizens see improvements in their daily lives,” Boakai said, adding, “It is measured by whether farmers can access markets, whether young people can find opportunities close to home, whether women are empowered to participate fully in decision-making, and whether communities have access to essential services and economic opportunities.”
The Liberian leader highlighted ongoing efforts to implement the Local Government Act of 2018, saying it provides a critical legal foundation for transferring authority and service delivery functions to local governments.
According to him, full implementation of the Act remains key to closing the gap between national policy and community-level impact.
He further emphasized that decentralization is not only an administrative reform but also a democratic necessity.
“When communities are empowered to participate in planning, budgeting, implementation, and oversight, development becomes more responsive, transparent, and sustainable,” noting, “When local institutions function effectively, citizens gain confidence that the government is working in their interests.”
President Boakai also reaffirmed his government’s commitment to supporting the establishment of a West Africa Training Center for Local Governance and Rural Development in Liberia, in collaboration with AARDO.
He said the proposed center would strengthen capacity-building for local officials and support long-term institutional development across the sub-region.
Declaring the roundtable officially open, Boakai called for stronger international cooperation to address shared development challenges, stressing that rural communities must no longer be treated as peripheral zones but as the foundation of national progress.
“Development must move beyond policy discussions and become visible in the lives of our people. We must move development to the people,” he concluded.
The conference is expected to produce a set of policy recommendations and an implementation roadmap to guide Liberia’s decentralization and rural development agenda in the coming years.