program by affording Liberians the opportunity to be a part of the decision-making process.

A Ministry of Internal affairs release issued here Tuesday quotes Mr. Sirleaf as noting that “People will not feel marginalized under the decentralization program.”

According to the release, Sirleaf made the statement Monday at the opening of a week-long intensive capacity-building training in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County that brought together 15 County Information Officers and Public Relations Officers of 14 government ministries, agencies and commissions involved with service deconcentration.

The training is being held under the auspices of the Ministry of Internal Affairs with the theme: “Increased knowledge for increased participation.”

Sirleaf indicated that under this program, services such as acquiring birth and marriage certificates, driver’s license and business registration, among others, will be obtained in the counties.

He urged the participants to take the training exercise seriously because its aim is to make them knowledgeable of government programs to be empowered to explain them to the public.

According to the release, the training will provide the communicators with the practical knowledge of the goal and objectives of government’s decentralization program.

It will deliver a set of practical communication skills for community engagements and sensitization of the program, especially at county level, the release pointed out.

The Liberia Decentralization Support Program is being implemented by the Government with funding from the European Union, Sweden, USAID, UNMIL and UNDP, the release stated.
LINA PR/WSG/JGT/TSS/PTK