2 Passport Service Centers Commissioned
By Godgift Harris
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai on Monday, July 21, 2025, officially commissioned a new regional Passport Application Center in Gbarnga, Bong County.
The exercise is part of the President’s commitment to decentralize government services.
The ceremony formed part of the country’s 178th Independence Day celebrations, scheduled for Saturday, July 26.
It marks a significant milestone under the ARREST Agenda, a national framework focused on agriculture, roads, rule of law, education, sanitation and tourism.
The new center is aimed at bringing passport services closer to Liberians in rural regions, thereby eliminating the need for long, costly trips to Monrovia.
“We are taking passport services to the citizens,” Pres. Boakai declared during to the excitements of those in audience.
“This is about giving every Liberian access to what they deserve as citizens of this country,” the President assured.
He said, the center is not only about access to documentation, but also a broader effort to foster inclusivity and bridge the service delivery gap between government and its people.
Bokai added: “When you empower the people, you develop the nation. This is Bong County’s time, and we must work together to achieve shared progress.”
The President also stress the importance of road connectivity as a backbone to national development, linking health facilities, schools and marketplaces.
“A good road leads to a clinic, a school, a market and ultimately to a better life,” he said, pledging his administration’s continued investment in rural infrastructure.
In parallel with the Bong County dedication, Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti, simultaneously launched a passport application center in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County.
The Gbarnga center will serve Bong, Nimba, and Lofa counties, while the Grand Gedeh facility will cater to Maryland, River Gee and Sinoe counties.
Meanwhile, Pres Boakai has praised Madam Nyanti for her leadership and oversight role at the ministry, describing her involvement as “crucial to realize the decentralization effort.”
“With teamwork, we can achieve more as a nation,” the President stated.
At the Gbarnga event, the Director of Passports and Visas, Paul W. Ngafuan, encouraged citizens from the region to take full advantage of the service centers, which he said, would greatly ease the application process.
“This is your opportunity to access passport services right here at home,” Ngafuan told residents at the occasion.
“Let the passport be in the hands of the right people; we will thoroughly vet all applications before forwarding them to Monrovia for printing.”
Ngafuan announced that the average processing time for passports at the Gbarnga center would be about two weeks.
He emphasized government’s instituted strict security, and vetting protocols to ensure that only eligible Liberians receive passports.
The ceremony drew an enthusiastic crowd, including local government officials, traditional leaders, civil society representatives, students and ordinary residents.
Many praised the initiative as a timely and much-needed intervention for rural Liberians.
“This is a huge relief,” said Madam Comfort Kollie, a teacher from Gbarnga.
“In the past, we had to spend days and a lot of money traveling to Monrovia just to apply for a passport.
The ceremony today shows that the government is thinking about us.”
Residents of Nimba and Lofa counties, who also attended the ceremony, expressed similar sentiments, highlighting how the decentralized center would save them both time and resources.
As Liberia celebrates its 178th year of independence, the establishment of regional passport centers serve as a tangible demonstration of the Boakai administration’s.
They pledged to bring government closer to the people and promote equitable access to essential services.
Earlier, Pres. Boakai reminded Liberians of their shared responsibility in maintaining the integrity of the facility.
“Let us use this center wisely and respectfully, government will do its part, but we as citizens must do ours,” he urged.
The passport decentralization effort marks a key step toward a more accessible and citizen-focused public service delivery system under the Boakai administration.