Traditional leaders including Chiefs, Zoes and Elders of Grand Bassa County have reached a decision on the way forward in the implementation of Government’s flagship policy, the Decentralization Program, implementation which is being led by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The Traditional leaders made their position known Friday, in a Resolution presented to Internal Affairs Minister Blamoh Nelson for onward submission to President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.

The chiefs said the resolution is a result of the National Chiefs’ Forum which brought together over 185 traditional people in Monrovia from July 5-11, 2012 where a major resolution, called ‘Resolution 165’ was adopted.

‘Resolution 165’ among other things, calls on chiefs to positively engage the Central government to addressing their plight in the 15 counties of Liberia.
They disclosed that in furtherance of the commitment, ‘Resolution 165’ was passed onto Superintendent Etweda Cooper who convened  a Special Meeting of all traditional people including district Superintendents, Mayors, Zoes, Paramount, Clan and Town chiefs to discuss ‘Resolution 165’ reached the Chiefs’ Forum at the Providence Island.

Presenting their document Friday, the Vice Chairman of the National Traditional Council said the resolution represents steps to be taken as a result of decisions reached during the Chiefs’ forum in Monrovia.

According to the resolution, traditional leaders of the County welcome the boundary harmonization efforts as announced by the Ministry, but want affected people has a result of amalgamation of districts to accrue certain benefits with special packages.

The four-count resolution read by Grand Bassa County District # 1 Superintendent Samuel Karmenjay, calls on government to revert to what it referred to as the ‘Original Traditional Ruling Structures of local government’.
The County’s traditional leaders called for administrative and financial support to fast-track effective implementation of the process of Boundary Harmonization before the 2014 Chieftaincy elections.

The resolution called for increased sensitization and awareness to promote the policy and its implementation through Town Hall meetings and Community Outreach.

Speaking earlier, Grand Bassa County Superintendent Madam Etweda Cooper, who accompanied the traditional leaders to Monrovia, said the resolution by chiefs signifies the willingness of the people of her county in partnering with central government for the full implementation of the Decentralization Program.
She noted that resolution adopted on August  14 this year, followed a major gathering of the county’s traditional leaders, opinion leaders and partners at which time the Decentralization Policy and ‘Resolution 165’ adopted by chiefs in Monrovia were thoroughly discussed in the Capital, Buchanan.

Madam Cooper assured Minister Nelson of the commitment of her Administration and people of Grand Bassa County in the full implementation of all government policies and programs.

In response, Internal Minister Blamoh Nelson lauded traditional leaders and County Administration of the County for taking the lead in the implementation process of the Decentralization Program.

He promised to forward the resolution to President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf about the readiness of the people of Grand Bassa County.

Minister Nelson meanwhile assured, that boundary harmonization initiative is intended to improve the lives and condition of the people and not to negatively affect anyone.

The Internal Affairs Minister also called on other counties to emulate the good example of the people of Grand Bassa County, which according to him will foster the Decentralization Process.