By Rancy S. Teewia
MONROVIA, June 24 (LINA) – The Executive Director of the Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC), Cllr. Jero Cole Bangalu, has disclosed that the Commission has undergone what he called a “historic repositioning,” shifting from a narrow refugee management agency to a broad human mobility governance institution.
Speaking at the Ministry of Information regular press briefing on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, Cllr. Bangalu said the transformation is guided by Executive Order 159, which is the rebranding of LRRRC to Refugee Agency and Migration Commission of Liberia (RAMCO).
He added that the move reflects contemporary migration realities and Liberia’s growing role in regional and global population movements.
The RAMCO Executive Director stated that since his ascendancy, the current administration has prioritized comprehensive institutional strengthening.
“The Commission is transitioning into RAMCO, expanding its mandate beyond refugees to include statelessness, deportees, returnees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), asylum seekers, and general migration governance,” He stressed.
Cllr. Bangalu noted that under his leadership, the Commission has begun work on Liberia’s first comprehensive National Migration Policy and a national policy framework for IDPs. Noting that a multi-sectoral National Policy Working Group (PWG) comprising government institutions, development partners, academia, and civil society has been commissioned to guide formulation and implementation.
At the same time, Bangalu revealed that his administration has reviewed and updated key internal policies covering human resources, procurement, financial management, asset management, and administrative guidelines to improve governance and accountability.
“Civil Documentation and Integration over the past few months, RAMCO has strengthened Liberia’s civil documentation system,” Bangalu noted.
Meanwhile, Cllr. Bangalu also said the Commission has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding with the National Identification Registry and the Liberia Immigration Service to enhance identity management and legal documentation.
According to him, the initiative targets persons of concern, especially refugees opting for integration in Liberia and other refugee populations residing in the country.
He stressed that efforts toward durable solutions and local integration continue in collaboration with national and international partners.