By Ernest Kpehe Moibah
Tubmanburg, Bomi County, July 31, 2025–After months of ineffectiveness, the Bomi County Service Center in Tubmanburg has officially resumed full services, marking a significant step toward restoring government functions, improving service delivery, and advancing Liberia’s decentralization agenda.
Announcing the reopening during a live appearance on Pumah FM’s Western Region Morning Drive, the head of the center, Rev. Tarweh C. Johnson, emphasized that this move will not only bring essential services closer to citizens but also help generate much needed local revenue to support government initiatives.
Restoring Access to Vital Services
Rev. Johnson highlighted that the center is now fully operational, offering a range of services including: Birth certificates for children aged 0–12 years, marriage certificates, driver’s licenses and school permits
Additionally, the center hosts multiple ministries and agencies, such as the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, making it a one stop hub for public services in Bomi County.
“This is about giving dignity back to our people by ensuring they can access government services without traveling long distances,” Johnson said. “The service center is here to make governance tangible at the local level while contributing to national revenue mobilization.”
Strengthening Decentralization and Revenue Mobilization
The reopening of the Bomi Service Center is part of a broader decentralization strategy aimed at bringing government closer to citizens while creating sustainable revenue streams.
By providing essential documentation and permits locally, the center reduces bureaucratic delays, keeps financial resources circulating within the county, and strengthens accountability in service delivery.
Challenges in Reporting and Coordination
While celebrating the reopening, Amadu Sarnor, an employee of the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning assigned to Bomi County, identified reporting irregularities as a persistent challenge.
Sarnor stressed the need for local authorities and pillar members to attend development meetings regularly and submit timely reports, ensuring that activities at the service center are well coordinated and transparent.
“For decentralization to succeed, we must improve communication and reporting,” Sarnor said. “This will help us accurately track progress, strengthen service delivery, and properly account for revenues generated through the center.”
Bringing Government Closer to the People
Residents in Tubmanburg and surrounding districts have welcomed the return of full operations at the service center, saying it saves them time and money previously spent traveling to Monrovia for basic services.
Local leaders expressed optimism that the center will boost efficiency, strengthen public trust, and ensure that decentralized governance truly works for ordinary citizens.
“This is what decentralization should look like,” said an elderly after accessing one of the services. “We can now see and feel the government’s presence right here in Bomi.”
