Latest News

Chair Tokpa calls for proactive actions to ensure a transition from fiscal

Buchannan (June 1, 2024)-The Acting Chairman of the Governance Commission has called for serious and proactive actions to ensure a seamless transition from fiscal centralization to fiscal decentralization in Liberia. Speaking at the Fiscal Decentralization Training Workshop held in Buchanan on May 30, 2024, Prof. Alaric Tokpa reminded local government leaders that the Local Government Fiscal Board is required by law to assist with the fiscal transition. The Fiscal Board will make determinations and recommendations to the Legislature for grants from the central government to county and municipal governments in the context of equitable revenue sharing.
Prof. Alaric Tokpa, expressed the Commission's satisfaction that efforts to include the people of Liberia in the governance process have reached the fiscal decentralization stage and public financial management. He reiterated the Commission's commitment to ensuring a smooth transition and effective implementation of fiscal decentralization.
Prof. Alaric Tokpa emphasized that a comprehensive understanding of the public financial management law, regulations, revenue sharing law, county treasury framework, local government act, county, and social development funds, budget preparation, and government accounting processes is not just beneficial, but a crucial requirement for good local government administration. He stressed the importance of local government leaders being well-versed in these areas to effectively manage public finances at the local level.
He maintained that local government is a crucial aspect of democratization and the inclusion of the people in the decision-making process for national development.
The acting chairman of the Governance Commission also pointed out that Local government serves two purposes. The first, he said, is the administrative purpose of supplying goods and services, while the other is to represent and involve citizens in determining specific local public needs and how these local needs can be met.
Prof. Tokpa used the occasion to inform the gathering that the key to an effective decentralized fiscal regime is transparency and accountability in receiving and spending financial resources, particularly at the county and sub-county levels. He emphasized that it is critical to develop a financial management framework of policies, regulations, guidelines, and procedures and to appoint competent professionals who will be accountable for the overall fiscal management of counties and municipalities.