The Commissioner of Lackay-ta Township in District #4 Margibi County has ended a daylong Citizens’ participatory development meeting aimed at fast striking the Developmental agenda of the Township under the Pro-poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD).
Commissioner George Cooper speaking during the meeting in the Township over the weekend said the gathering was intended to allow his office update the citizens about his plans for the Township and inform them about other engagements he has had with the Liberian government through the office of the County Superintendent and other stakeholders operating in the County.
The meeting which brought together over hundred persons including Pastors, Security Personnel, members of the Disabled Community, Chiefs and elders according to Commissioner Cooper was also meant for citizens to jointly puffer necessary strategies and ideas suited to bring lasting Development into the Township.
The Larkay-Ta Township Commissioner during the meeting outlined priorities among which he talked about the construction of a disable Center, relocation of the Township maternal waiting home and the renovation of the Commissioner Compound as key plans for 2019-2020.
He also noted that several outreach activities such as talks between his office and the County Land Commissioner, Joe Alfred Dorah as well as the management of the Liberia National Housing Authority to include his Township into President George Weah plans for the nationwide construction of Housing Development project which is expected to positively affect the lives and Living Conditions of the Ordinary Liberians especially in the rural areas are ongoing.
Meanwhile, Emmanuel S. Moore, a member of the Disabled Community living in the Township has described the meeting as first of its kind in the Township’s history; noting that for a seated Commissioner to invite people living with disabilities to a meeting intended to find a way forward in the Township’s future Development plans and priority is a dream come through.
“We are very appreciative and thankful to God for Commissioner George Cooper who has given us a surprise invitation to form part of this decision-making process in the interest of our Township something we were denied of so many times by our past leaders” he lamented.
Expressing frustration in a very sorrowful tone, the man living with disability decried the manner in which he said they were excluded and treated by past local County officials especially when meetings and other Community discussions were called in the Township.
He told The Monrovia Times that in the past, they were only recognized by politicians when it was time for citizens to go to the poll and vote leaders of the District, Township, Clans, sections and the Country at large.
Emmanuel Moore furthered that they have embarked on a cassava farm project to generate funds that will enable them to support each another in times of sorrows and happiness, something he said was challenging.
He is at the same time appealing to the Liberian Government and other Philanthropists including advocacy groups to support their ongoing cassava Farm project in the Township.
For his part, the head pastor of the faith and Victory Church in Compound Larkay-Ta Township Zechariah Quire has expressed gratitude to President George Weah for the appointment of Commissioner George Cooper.
He noted that Commissioner Cooper first engagement meeting worth commending adding,
‘the fact remains that citizens can now participate not only by sitting and listening but are also allowed to express themselves about burning issues and at the same time put forth ideas and strategies in the governance process of the Township is a good beginning
