G/Kru 32 ‘Cities’ Reduced To Villages

Grand Kru County could witness one of the biggest changes in its administrative history as government moves to review the legal status of cities nationwide.

The process could leave many of the county’s 33 cities re-designated as towns or villages.

Acting Minister of Local Government, Edward K. Mulbah, made the announcement during the Ministry’s “Taking Government to the People” town hall meeting held at Barclayville City Hall.

Mulbah said, the nationwide exercise is intended to ensure that only communities meeting constitutional and legal requirements retain city status.

With that procedure, only 33 of Liberia’s 141 cities currently satisfied the standards established under the laws.

By that, communities that fail to qualify will be re-designated as townships or villages, allowing the government to better target public investment and improve local governance.

Mulbah explained that a legally recognized city must have at least 10,000 residents, and essential public services, including electricity, pipe-borne water, schools, healthcare facilities, police stations, courts and an effective waste management system.

Townships must maintain a minimum population of 5,000.

Mulbah said, government believes the reform will eliminate the burden of financing municipalities that exist only on paper while allowing more resources to be invested in roads, education, healthcare, security and other essential public services.

The exercise forms part of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s decentralization agenda. It is being implemented under the Local Government Act of 2018, the Revenue Sharing Law of 2022, and the Ministry of Local Government Act of 2025.

Meanwhile, Pres. Boakai, has approved logistical support for chiefs, women’s organizations, community colleges, and County Development Planning Units to strengthen local governance nationwide.

The town hall meeting provided Grand Kru residents with an opportunity to question government officials, and discuss the future of decentralization and development as the reform process moves forward.

Grand Kru Administration

For Grand Kru, where dozens of communities currently hold city status, the reform could significantly reshape local administration and development planning.

The county is primarily composed of its capital city, ⁠Barclayville, along with several other “cities, townships, and settlements such as ⁠Grand Cess and ⁠Sasstown.”

The county is administratively divided into 18 districts, which include: Barclayville: The capital and most populous settlement in the county, located about 10 miles inland on the banks of the Na River.

Grand Cess: A major coastal town known for its fishing and local airfield.

Sasstown: A historic coastal community established by the Jlao people in 1830, consisting of older inland settlements and a coastal beach area.

Garraway: A settlement situated along the Grand Cess (Wikipedia coast), known for trade and maritime activities.

Other key towns and ‘cities:’ Blebo City, Behwan City, Dougbo City, Newaken City, Sorroken City and Gbanken.

With the last development, all those named cities will be reduced either to towns or villages owing to their statuses.