Deputy UN Envoy Hands Over UN-Funded Building

As part of efforts to strengthen the capacity of local authorities in Liberia , UN Deputy Envoy, Mr. Jordan Ryan, has handed over a newly-constructed administration building in Fish Town , River Gee County , southeastern Liberia , for use by the county authorities.

The US$230,000.00 UN-funded building, furnished with office equipment, electricity,water, and other services, was turned over to Liberia 's Internal Affairs Minister, Mr. Ambulai Johnson, on behalf of the local authorities of River Gee.

The newly-constructed River Gee Administration Building

Performing the hand over ceremony, Mr. Ryan said the new building would give the local government an opportunity to engage the county's population more effectively. Describing the new building as the fruit of a joint UN effort in support of local administrations under the County Support Team (CST) project, the UN Deputy Envoy encouraged the local authorities to ensure that the building becomes the manifestation of an “effective functioning local government. “There is no more excuse for county officials not undertaking or delaying their work,” the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Recovery and Governance pointed out.

Hailing the successful completion of the administration building project as a new beginning, Minister Johnson said the new building will enable various line ministries of government to provide services to the people, build capacity of local officials, and contribute to Liberia 's development.

River Gee Superintendent J. Samson Karku thanked the UN family for the new building, and said it would help ease the difficulties faced by local officials in carrying out their official duties. Lack of office accommodation had in the past forced some officials of the local administration to set up offices in their private homes.

The UN and other development partners are involved in restoring the functionality of local administrative structures under the CST. Plans are underway to support the rehabilitation and construction of eleven of the 15 administrative buildings throughout Liberia . As a result, the CST project, assisted by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), has been supporting the construction of five structures in Margibi, River Cess, River Gee, Gbarpolu and Grand Kru counties, and rehabilitation of the Monrovia building. The River Gee structure is the third CST-supported building to be handed over to the Government of Liberia.