In a move hailed as a landmark drive to bring government services closer to the people, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. has officially launched the decentralisation of passport services in Liberia’s Bong and Grand Gedeh Counties.
On Monday, July 21, 2025, President Boakai inaugurated the new Passport Application Center in Gbarnga, Bong County.
This launch marks a significant milestone in the Boakai Administration’s commitment to good governance, regional inclusion, and equitable access to public services, said a statement to APA on Tuesday.
The initiative is a central feature of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ National Passport Decentralisation Program, which aims to decongest the central passport bureau in Monrovia and reduce the travel burden on Liberians residing in remote areas.
President Boakai underscored the importance of the initiative, stating that the new centers will serve the needs of Liberia’s leeward counties and bring critical services closer to the people.
While Liberia’s foreign affairs minister, Sara Beysolow Nyanti, simultaneously unveiled the Passport Hub in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County on behalf of President Boakai.
“In Zwedru, we proudly unveiled our new passport hub as part of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s launch of the National Passport Decentralization Initiative,” said Foreign Minister Nyanti. “This is more than a building it is a promise delivered. Citizens of Grand Gedeh and surrounding counties will no longer need to endure long journeys and extended wait times to access their constitutional right to travel.”
Nyanti emphasised the government’s commitment to expanding passport services to additional regions in the near future. “We are determined to ensure that no Liberian is left behind, regardless of geography,” she affirmed.
The Zwedru center features state-of-the-art biometric equipment and is directly connected to the ministry’s central database in Monrovia, ensuring secure, efficient, and timely processing of passport applications.
The government said the launch reflects its ongoing investment in digital transformation and the modernisation of public service delivery.
The Bong and Grand Gedeh centers are the first of several regional passport hubs to be rolled out under this decentralisation initiative.
Their launch is part of the official calendar of events celebrating Liberia’s 178th Independence Day, underscoring the government’s focus on tangible service delivery and national renewal.
WN/as/APA