Edward H. Lahai demands fiscal independence, claims township has received less than 5% of revenues owed over two years
BY: LARZALEE M. WANNAH
Congo Town, Liberia — The Commissioner of the Township of Oldest Congo Town, Edward H. Lahai, has thrown down the gauntlet in Liberia’s decentralization debate, demanding that local authorities be granted genuine control over revenues generated within their own communities.
Speaking from Litong District in Wuzhong, where he is on an official visit to the People’s Republic of China, Commissioner Lahai issued a clarion call for the National Government to empower townships and other local authorities with the authority, resources, and systems needed to collect, manage, and invest locally generated revenues.
“Meaningful decentralization cannot be achieved,” he asserted, “if local governments remain financially dependent on central authorities while revenues generated within their jurisdictions are controlled elsewhere.”
The Commissioner’s frustration took a sharper turn over an existing revenue-sharing arrangement between the City of Monrovia and the townships — particularly his own. Under the arrangement, the City of Monrovia collects municipal taxes in Congo Town and is expected to remit 45 percent of those revenues to the township.
Yet, Lahai alleged, the Township of Oldest Congo Town has in two years received not even five percent of the total revenues collected on its behalf.
The alleged shortfall, he warned, has severely crippled the township’s ability to operate its office and expand essential services to residents. “The resources generated from our Township cannot continue to fail to impact the lives of our people,” the Commissioner stressed.
Lahai argued that local communities must directly benefit from the revenues raised within their jurisdictions — especially when local authorities are expected to respond to pressing social and development needs.
A track record that speaks
The Commissioner pointed to several initiatives undertaken by the Township of Oldest Congo Town as evidence that local authorities can deliver tangible results when given adequate financial capacity. These include career development and national examination programs for students, vocational training for women and girls, job-creation initiatives, support to schools and needy students, disaster response, drug-awareness campaigns, and fire-safety education.
Supported through locally generated revenues and assistance from external partners, Lahai maintained that Congo Town’s experience demonstrates the immense potential of local government institutions to contribute meaningfully to national development when they possess the resources and authority to act.
A challenge to leaders — and to policy
While welcoming President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s support for decentralization, Commissioner Lahai did not shy away from challenging his fellow local government officials to become stronger advocates for the interests of their respective communities.
“True decentralization must go beyond policy discussions,” he emphasized, insisting that local authorities need the financial power, systems, and capacity to make decisions and directly invest in the development of their people.
His comments come amid his ongoing visit to China, where he is observing local governance and community development models, including his engagements in Litong District, Wuzhong, and the Ningxin Community.