As part of his commitment to bring services closer to the citizens, President Joseph N. Boakai has inaugurated a new regional passport hub in Gbarnga, Bong County. This new regional passport hub aims to reduce the need for citizens to travel to Monrovia to obtain their passports, thereby providing easier access for those who may face challenges in making the journey.
Speaking at the dedication ceremony on Monday, July 21, 2025, President Boakai emphasized, “This is the time we are going to ensure that we serve you and this country. We are not merely going to celebrate our 178 years of existence; we want to see what benefits this age can bring. Our goal is true decentralization of functions and services that alleviates the hardships faced by our people.”
The President described the new passport hub as a significant step toward justice and fairness in public service delivery. He believes it will change lives, reduce suffering, and bring the government closer to its citizens. “Some may take this lightly, thinking those who can go to Monrovia for passport services have it easy. We understand the challenges involved—not just the costs to travel, but the struggle to find accommodations and the overall hardships of accessing such services,” he explained.
He stated that citizens have long been burdened by the difficulty of accessing one of their most important rights: the right to identity. In Liberia, many people are forced to leave their work, whether on farms or in classrooms, in order to travel to Monrovia to apply for a passport, which the President characterized as discouraging.
Boakai shared that for many Liberians, especially in rural areas, seeking a passport requires abandoning essential tasks, something the government aims to address by promoting road connectivity. “People often do not realize that when I mention road connectivity, it ties into your health, education, and overall access. When roads are developed, costs decrease,” he stated.
The President announced, “Today, we officially launched the National Initiative to Decentralize Passport Services, starting with new centers in Bong and Grand Gedeh Counties.” With the establishment of these hubs, Boakai stated that financial and emotional burdens will be alleviated, thereby restoring dignity to citizens.
He highlighted that the initiative is focused on movement, convenience, and equity, which aims to correct systemic imbalances that have marginalized vulnerable populations while favoring those living near Monrovia. “Our mothers and fathers in rural areas should not have to choose between feeding their families and securing legal documents. Our youth, seeking scholarships and opportunities abroad, should not be hindered by a system that does not reach them,” he remarked.
According to him, this initiative aligns with the values and vision of the ARREST Agenda, emphasizing that under the Rule of Law, identity is a right, not a privilege. “While we are physically connecting our counties through better roads, we must also ensure access to services. This effort directly reflects our commitment to decentralization and citizen inclusion,” he added.
President Boakai concluded by stating that the launch in Bong and Grand Gedeh is just the beginning; the government plans to continue rolling out decentralized passport services until no citizen is compelled to spend hundreds of dollars to exercise their right to be recognized.
