The group also emphasized the need to observe accountability, women and youth participation as well as capacity building, among others.

The recommendations grew out of the third and final phases of the three cluster engagement conducted by the Center for Media Studies and Peace-building, (CEMESP) at the Women Center in Gbarnga to generate citizens’ input in the process.

In response to the views of the delegates, CEMESP Open Space facilitators assured them that this is not an end of the road affair, and promised further engagements to ensure that the decentralization law is representative of popular views.

In remarks, the Program Manager of the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), Jackie Wiseman, indicated that the project cuts across three thematic areas - political, economic and social justice, with the aim of exhausting all necessary means.

According to a release, the OSIWA-funded project being implemented by CEMESP is intended to give voice to people who have limited or no knowledge about the decentralization process which the government of Liberia and other development partners are working on as part of efforts to give power to the people.

Participants who attended the third and final cluster meeting of the Open Space Dialogue on Decentralization and Local Governance came from Lofa, Nimba, Bassa, Rivercess and Bong Counties.
LINA BMK/TSS/PTK