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Liberia: Dr. Sawyer Dissects Importance of Decentralization
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The NEWS (Monrovia)
15 April 2008
Posted to the web 15 April 2008
Doe S.K. Davies
Monrovia
The Chairman of the Governance Commission (GC) Dr. Amos C. Sawyer says his commission is engaging the public including professionals, students, academia and local inhabitants to fashion a draft policy and strategy framework for the decentralization of Liberia.
He noted that the decentralization process is very important to the future democratization of the country owing to the fact that decisions affecting the lives of the citizenry are being taken to Monrovia where the process of decision-making in Liberia has been concentrated and handed down to county superintendents, district commissioners and members of the House of Representatives.
Prof. Sawyer made the assertion Monday at the GC offices on Capitol Hill when the commission honored participants of a recent decentralization essay contest among students of various universities in Liberia.
He also indicated that the process of decision-making in Liberia has concentrated all powers at the level of the central state and every other institution only reflected that.
"So we have always thought of ourselves as a people who wanted to know what Monrovia wanted us to know. Now we have an opportunity to change that so that local people can become even more active participants to decision making that will run their own lives," Dr. Sawyer noted.
He pointed out that the Governance Commission has applauded President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf for continuously saying that she does not want to be an imperial president and that she wants to spearhead the drive to decentralization.
He asserted further that his commission is delighted in the President's commitment and is helping to organize a system of decentralization but added that a system of decentralization can not just be driven by a cult or from the top, the people of Liberia must get involved in the process.
Dr. Sawyer: "This is why the GC has right from the start involved the people around this country in a discussion about decentralization; what it means, what are its benefits, how it will differ from the present system, what responsibility it will put on local people and what kind of capacity it will need, what powers the central government will relinquish to the counties, districts, cities and townships? All of these issues are being discussed around the country by the commission."
Besides ongoing discussions around the country, Dr. Sawyer noted that his commission has retained expert services to help share experience on how people in other countries have decentralized successfully in order for Liberians to benefit from their experience.
He divulged that the idea of a decentralization essay contest was basically to stimulate the issue and have a discussion going among the young people and students who are the future leaders.
"To begin a really thoughtful discussion of what decentralization should be for Liberia, and that is why I am really delighted that we can have this program today to honor those who participated. We do not want this to be the end, the essay and discussions must be carried in the classrooms, we should take this as a beginning and move on with a debate in the various universities and 'hatai' centers and let people discuss the issue fully so that we can all understand what the issues are and in what way the program of decentralization will be helpful," Dr. Sawyer added.
He also noted that the importance of getting students and the Liberian people involved is that they must be the owners of this activity because once the program of decentralization is implemented they would have to sustain it, adding "this program is an important first step in encouraging our students, there would be many more opportunities for engagement as we move along."
Dr. Sawyer then congratulated the participants, indicating "there are no losers because when you write an essay you learn something, there is no way that you lose; when you discuss and share with others what you write even those who did not participate directly also win; the whole idea is that we all learn something about decentralization".
Presenting certificates and cash awards to the honorees on behalf of the GC, the Managing Director of the Observer Corporation Kenneth Y. Best lauded the commission and participants for the initiative.
He recounted the era of dictatorship and totalitarianism in Liberia and indicated that these behavioral patterns attributed to chaos and violence in the Liberian society.
Mr. Best said the system of decentralization of power in Liberia is the best recipe to avert chaos and violence in a sustained democratic process, and called on Liberians to take keen interest in all discussions leading to fashioning the draft policy framework for decentralization of the country.
Six students from various universities were honored for their participation in the essay contest including the three best essays written by Messrs Wisdom P. Oghogho of the University of Liberia 1st place; Ibrahim A. Nyei of the A.M.E. University, 2nd place and Columbus G. Dorliae, University of Liberia, 3rd place.
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They were awarded cash prizes of US$500, US$400 and US$300 for the first, second and third places respectively.
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