Says Urban Affairs Minister; Urges for Reform
โBy G Chea Wreh
โโGRAND BASSAโ Liberiaโs Minister of Urban Affairs at the Ministry of Local Governance, Hon. Fatima Bintu Sirleaf, has disclosed that only 33 of the countryโs 141 declared cities currently meet the legal requirements to retain city status.โโ
Minister Sirleaf made the disclosure during a public awareness campaign organized by the Grand Bassa County Council in Buchanan City, where she addressed reporters and local authorities on ongoing reforms under the Local Government Act (LGA) of 2018.โโ
According to the minister, an assessment conducted by her ministry revealed that a significant number of localities designated as cities do not meet the criteria outlined in the law.
As a result, several cities may be downgraded to town status.โโโI even told the mayor of Edina City that her city didnโt make it,โ Minister Sirleaf said, underscoring the seriousness of the review process.โโ
She explained that the reforms will have direct implications for local leadership, noting that some individuals will no longer serve as mayors or chiefs once the reclassification process is completed.
โโโThere are people who will not be mayor anymore, and there are people who will not be chief anymore,โ she stated, adding that the process will be carried out in a transparent and lawful manner.
โโMinister Sirleaf further clarified that under the Local Government Act of 2018 and established administrative practices, a locality must meet specific requirements to qualify as a city.
These include population thresholds, adequate infrastructure development, and formal legislative approval.โโ
She noted that, apart from Monrovia and the 15 county capitals, all other cities are required to meet these standards or face reversion to town status in accordance with the law.โโ
The minister urged local leaders and residents to view the reforms as part of a broader effort to strengthen governance, improve service delivery, and ensure that administrative classifications reflect current realities on the ground.
