VIDEO: Ministry of Internal Affairs Renamed Ministry of Local Government as Government Prepares to Implement Amended Local Government Act

The Ministry of Local Government officially launched its Five-Year Implementation Plan (Phase II) of the Local Government Act (2018), marking a major step in Liberia’s decentralization agenda championed by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr.. In his 2024 State of the Nation Address, President Boakai identified centralized governance as a long-standing barrier to rural development and committed his administration to fully implementing the Local Government Act, including devolving authority to county service centers and establishing a dedicated Ministry of Local Government to advance inclusive development across Liberia.

Following this commitment, the Ministry of Internal Affairs was formally renamed the Ministry of Local Government in August 2025 through legislative amendment, enabling full implementation of key decentralization frameworks, including the Local Government Act, National Policy on Decentralization, and Revenue Sharing Law. With expanded mandates and strengthened institutional capacity, the Ministry is now preparing for a nationwide rollout of the amended Act, calling on all stakeholders to support the process while expressing gratitude to President Boakai, the National Legislature, and development partners for their collective role in advancing local governance reform.