Abstract

Decentralization in modern age and across the world is expected to facilitate infrastructural and social services at the grassroots level and by extension promote good governance. This is attained through the transfer of decision making to grassroots and encourage effective and efficient implementation of programs. Paradoxically, this is far from reality as previous administration adopted centralized system operation that has impeded even development in Liberia. Therefore, the paper examined the application of decentralization policy and its relevance to the promotion of grassroots development in Liberia. Survey design was adopted for the study. Population of the study was purposively selected from three of the four regional headquarters which include the Gbarpolu in Southwest, Bong in Central and Nimba in North with a population of 3.5 million people. Unstructured interview was used to generate data and were content analyzed. The study observed that the nature of centralized system of governance eroded grassroots initiatives and political participation, this has hampered defined policy legislation and direction. Again, applicability of decentralization in Liberia is assured as it builds fiscal, administrative and political capacities of local sub-units. However, there are factors that had militated against decentralization policy which include lack of political will and professionals at the local level. The study recommended that the National Legislature should pass the requisite legislation to facilitate the decentralization process. The state should invest in human resource development particularly to ensure continuity of service at the local level. Additionally, every county in Liberia should have at least an institution of higher learning to groom local talents so as to prevent brain- drain.