Ben TC Brooks
River Gee County – [Sept. 1, 2025]-The Cooperative Development Agency (CDA), over the weekend, conducted a two-day training session with the aim to enhance financial management, record-keeping, and leadership skills for local farmer cooperative societies in River Gee.
The training is designed to empower cooperative leaders and members with the necessary knowledge and skills to maintaining accurate financial records, develop budgets, manage cash flow effectively, and ensure overall financial accountability, CDA said during the training.
The training took place on August 27-28, 2025, at the County Agriculture Building on Tejeliken Road in Fish-Town. Over 40 participants, mainly consisting of farmers from nine registered cooperative societies in River Gee County participated in the training.
Participants engaged in practical exercises, case studies, and discussions tailored to their specific needs, including the use of ledger books, financial statements, and documentation procedures that promote transparency and accountability.
Abenego F. Russell, Assistant Registrar at the Cooperative Development Agency in River Gee County, stressed the importance of proactive efforts by cooperative societies to enhance food production and economic growth in the county.
Russell emphasized the CDA’s commitment to supporting rural agricultural communities through continuous capacity-building initiatives to strengthen cooperatives, boost agricultural productivity, ensure fair market access, and improve the livelihoods of farmers in River Gee County.
The CDA Assistant Registrar for River Gee has outlined various initiatives, including installing signboards for cooperative societies to enhance visibility and credibility, assisted in establishment of bank accounts for financial transparency and efficiency, organized democratic elections to promote member involvement and representation, and recruited a skilled management team to oversee the daily operations of cooperative societies in River Gee County.
He noted that the training was part of a broader strategy to promote sustainable cooperative development and economic empowerment across Liberia, with a specific focus on rural and underserved areas like River Gee County.
Farmers expressed enthusiasm for the training, noting that enhanced financial management skills and shareholder dealings would enable them to better track their income and expenses, access credit facilities, and plan for sustainable growth.
Cooperative leaders Esther G. Williams of Tendeh Multipurpose Cooperative and Alfred Y. Collins of United Cocoa Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative Society praised the training and said it will foster trust among members and stakeholders.
They appreciated the opportunity for the training and committed to implementing knowledge gained in order to enhance their operations. They, however, craved for regular training sessions for continuous improvement in structures and governance practices, financial reporting, record-keeping and stakeholder management.
Jasper Sherrief Tweh, the River Gee County Agriculture Coordinator, commended the CDA for complementing the Ministry of Agriculture’s efforts in training cooperative societies involved in farming activities in the county.
Tweh recognized the potential of cooperatives to play a vital role in boosting the economic status of River Gee County through effective collaboration and knowledge sharing. CDA is a government entity responsible for regulating and supporting cooperative societies to promote self-reliance, economic empowerment, and community-based development. It also focuses on strengthening cooperatives to enhance food security and contribute to the national economy.
