Grand Kru Development Officer Boasts of Progress, outlines 2024 projects
Barclayville, Grand Kru County β Grand Kru County Development Officer Joe Sekpeh has outlined an ambitious development plan for the county, highlighting significant progress made during the first year of the current administration. Sekpeh emphasized the strides made in development, contrasting them favorably with the previous administration’s record.
Key achievements in 2024, according to Sekpeh, include the solarization of the County Service Center through a partnership between the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Liberian government. He also cited capacity building for local authorities in governance, validation of the County Development Agendas, and the maintenance of peace within Grand Kru as important gains.
Looking ahead, Sekpeh detailed the county’s development plans for the coming year. Using the $200,000 County Development Fund allocation from the national government, the county has earmarked $15,000 for the Barclayville City layout, $20,000 for the construction of a modern City Hall, and $31,000 for the erection and rehabilitation of hand pumps. Funds have also been allocated for a children’s playground, a mini-sports stadium, and the completion of a youth center.
Further demonstrating the county’s commitment to supporting key sectors, Sekpeh announced allocations of $7,000 each for the County Health Team and the County Administration, along with $5,000 each for education and university student operational and logistical support.
Sekpeh praised the current government for the timely disbursement of the County Development Fund, which he credited with accelerating development within the first year of the Boakai-Koung administration. He also appealed to the National Legislature to increase the fund from $200,000 to $1 million, arguing that this increase would empower counties to more effectively implement government programs at the local level.
Sekpeh emphasized the financial challenges faced by some counties, particularly those without access to Social Development Funds. He pointed out that counties like Nimba, Bong, and Bassa benefit from these additional funds, which bolster their infrastructure development. He stressed that counties without such support rely solely on government allocations to initiate and implement development programs.