-To End Governance “Struggle” in Grand Kru
*BARCLAYVILLE, GRAND KRU – – The Kplio Traditional Community has launched a formal campaign to redraw the local governance map of Grand Kru County, petitioning the National Legislature to carve three new chiefdoms from their existing, overstretched territory.
In a move signaling growing demands for hyper-local administration in Liberia, community representatives delivered a formal petition to Senator Numene T.H. Bartekwa, Chairperson of the Grand Kru County Legislative Caucus, on Monday. The document calls for the legislative creation of the Gbalakpo, Flenneken, and Suehn Marquanken Chiefdoms.
The push, community leaders argue, is a direct response to the failures of the current system. “Placing the entire Kplio community under a single chiefdom has become a challenge for effective governance,” said spokesperson Gbadee Nyeswa, highlighting the impracticality of administering 35 towns and an estimated 18,000 residents through one centralized authority.
The petition, endorsed by a broad coalition of elders, women, and youth leaders, frames the request as a critical investment in the region’s future. It asserts that the creation of the new chiefdoms is the only viable solution—both short and long-term—to the “governance constraints” stifling their community.
“When our petition is given due consideration, it will improve local governance, strengthen productivity and safety, and promote peace and development in Grand Kru County,” the community’s position statement read.
The proposed restructuring would see the new chiefdoms organized into a total of nine clans, including Gorteken, Wutuken-Jaquiken, and Filoriken, bringing government services and traditional leadership closer to the people.
Senator Bartekwa, receiving the petition on behalf of the National Legislature, praised the Kplio community for their “organized approach” and adherence to proper civic procedure. He assured them their appeal would be channeled through the Grand Kru Legislative Caucus to the full National Legislature for formal review.
“Your position statement will receive the attention it deserves,” Senator Bartekwa stated. “As long as it aligns with the laws and governance procedures of Liberia, the National Legislature will give it the respect and consideration it merits.”
The outcome of this petition is being closely watched across Grand Kru, as it could set a precedent for other populous regions feeling underserved by existing governance structures. For the people of Kplio, the decision in Monrovia will determine whether their community can embark on what they hope will be a new chapter of equitable development and effective local rule.
