Lofa County – The Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Finance & Finance & Development Planning (MFDP) is moving closer to rolling out county treasuries in six more counties, as the second phase of assessments has concluded.
This phase focuses on verifying key details that will guide the construction and renovation of treasury offices, part of a broader push to improve financial decentralization and public service delivery.
The just ended assessment has taken teams across Maryland County, through Grand Gedeh County, and into Lofa County, where officials from the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning were received by local authorities. The effort is aimed at reducing the heavy dependence on Monrovia by bringing financial services closer to communities.
During the visit in Voinjama, Lofa County Superintendent J. Lavala Massaquoi stressed that improving governance requires a new approach. Superintendent Massaquoi indicated that citizens should be able to feel the presence and responsibility of their government through timely and efficient service delivery.
He pointed out that many residents still struggle to access basic services, often traveling long distances to Monrovia for things like marriage certificates or financial transactions related to healthcare.
The Lofa County Superintendent noted that these delays can have serious consequences, including shortages of essential supplies in hospitals.
“Chasing funds from place to place is not sustainable,” he asserted, adding that decentralizing treasury services would allow counties to respond faster to urgent needs.
While welcoming the initiative, he emphasized the need for strong accountability systems. He warned that managing public funds always comes with risks and called for the hiring of competent, trustworthy individuals—ideally from within the counties—to ensure transparency and effectiveness.
Earlier, Dr. Romeo Gbartea, Director of the Fiscal Decentralization Unit at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, confirmed that Lofa is among the counties selected for the project. Dr. Gbartea disclosed that funding has already been secured in the national budget, with renovation and construction expected to begin once technical assessments are finalized.
According to Dr. Gbartea, each treasury will bring together key financial units including budgeting, revenue collection, auditing, and planning- under one integrated system. This setup is intended to simplify government processes and ensure services are handled directly within the counties.
He also noted that recruitment for treasury staff will be open and transparent, not limited to applicants from Monrovia, in a bid to encourage local participation and reduce absenteeism.
The plan includes a 10-year capacity-building period, after which county administrations are expected to fully take over operations.
Authorities believe the initiative will speed up development by cutting delays in accessing funds, while also strengthening accountability and reducing corruption. With the assessment phase wrapping up in Lofa, there is growing optimism that the next stage—construction and renovation—will significantly improve how government services reach citizens across Liberia. The assessment is expected to end with Bomi County.
About the Author
