In a landmark move aimed at strengthening local governance, the Liberian Senate has voted to dissolve the Ministry of Internal Affairs and replace it with the newly established Ministry of Local Government. Lawmakers say the shift is designed to accelerate decentralization and enhance service delivery at the county and district levels.
The decision reflects the principles outlined in the 2018 Local Government Act, which calls for transferring authority from Monrovia to local administrations. According to officials, the new ministry will empower local leaders, streamline decision-making, and address delays caused by centralized bureaucracy.
The Ministry of Local Government will now oversee all local administrative structures and coordinate development programs across the country. The Senate emphasized that all contracts and policies previously handled by the Ministry of Internal Affairs will remain in effect, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted transition.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs, one of Liberia’s oldest institutions, has historically served as the government’s primary link to local communities for over a century. Its dissolution marks the most significant restructuring of national governance since the passage of the decentralization law.
Observers are now closely watching how quickly the reforms will be implemented and whether local authorities will receive the resources necessary to make the new ministry effective.
