By Emmanuel Koffa
For years, foreign nationals living in remote parts of the country have trekked long distances, with attached high costs just to regularize their stay, often traveling to Monrovia to process resident permits.
For many in Grand Kru County, that challenge may soon be erased.
To address the challenge, the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS), has launched a nationwide inspection of county offices.
The process is part of efforts to decentralize the processing of digital resident permits, bringing immigration services closer to the affected people the most.
In Barclayville, Deputy LIS Commissioner for Naturalization, N. Dickson R. Tamba, Sr said, the inspection reflects government’s recognition of the everyday struggles faced by both immigration officers and foreign residents in outlying counties.
“When services are centralized, the burden falls heavily on people in the counties. Our goal is to decentralize and make the system more accessible, lawful and fair for everyone,” Tamba said.
He said the inspection followed a contract signed nearly four years ago for the production of digital resident permits, noting that lessons learned since then have shown the need to shift the process closer to county-level offices.
As part of the new approach, selected LIS officers in Grand Kru County will receive training to process resident permits, including capturing biometric and personal data.
This move is expected to reduce delays, cut down travel expenses, and encourage more foreign residents to comply with immigration laws.
Local authorities say the change could also ease tensions within communities, where undocumented residents have often created misunderstandings between citizens and foreign nationals involved in farming activities and small-scale businesses.
The inspection exercise is being carried out with the involvement of representatives from the Ministry of Justice, the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), and Content Global, the contractor responsible for producing the digital resident permits.
While welcoming the initiative, Tamba acknowledged that LIS officers assigned in leeward counties, including Grand Kru, still face logistical challenges.
The county Superintendent, Antoinette Wowlee Nimely, described the inspection as a “positive step to improve governance at the local level.”
“Our officers are committed, but they need support,” Nimely said.
Supt. Nimely added: “When immigration services work well, it benefits both the county, and the people, who live and work here.”