— Rep. Benson Calls for Increased 2027 Budget Support
Montserrado County Electoral District 17 Representative, Hon. Bernard Blue Benson Jr., is calling on President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to give greater attention to the development needs of rural Montserrado in the preparation of the 2027 National Budget.
In an open letter to President Boakai dated Tuesday, September 15, Rep. Benson requested dedicated government funding for five historic communities within District 17; Arthington, Clay-Ashland, Millsburg, Royesville, and Cheesmanburg. He maintained that the longstanding challenges facing these communities require urgent and sustained government attention.
Benson emphasized the social, cultural, political, and historical significance of the five communities, while expressing concern that years of inadequate public investment have contributed to serious infrastructure deficits and limited access to essential services.
The District 17 lawmaker also pointed to the economic opportunities existing across the communities, particularly in agriculture, tourism, and cultural development. He argued that these sectors could contribute more significantly to local and national development if supported through purposeful government investment.
Highlighting the region’s place in Liberia’s history, Benson noted that the area has produced four of the country’s 26 presidents. He suggested that this historical contribution demonstrates the importance of ensuring that the communities receive meaningful development attention.
Among the major concerns identified by the lawmaker are deteriorating road networks, inadequate educational and healthcare facilities, poor sanitation, limited administrative capacity, and a shortage of sustained community-development programs.
At the center of Benson’s message is the argument that residents of rural Montserrado should enjoy the same opportunity to benefit from public services and national development as citizens living in other parts of the country.
Benson also raised questions about the implementation of the District Development Funds (DDF) and Social Development Funds (SDF), saying the mechanisms were established to address development needs but, in his assessment, have been affected by bureaucratic and political challenges that have reduced their effectiveness.
The District 17 Representative further alleged that the district has not received benefits from DDF or SDF allocations since Fiscal Year 2024, despite what he said were provisions for the district in the 2025 and 2026 national budgets.
As preparations continue for the Fiscal Year 2027 National Budget, Benson is urging the Boakai administration to ensure that budgetary commitments result in visible projects across Arthington, Clay-Ashland, Millsburg, Royesville, and Cheesmanburg, particularly in infrastructure and essential public services.
According to Benson, targeted investment in rural Montserrado could help address persistent socio-economic inequalities, improve living conditions, create opportunities in agriculture and tourism, and strengthen public confidence in government.
His appeal has placed the development needs of rural Montserrado within the wider national discussion on equitable development, particularly for communities that have made notable contributions to Liberia’s history but, according to the lawmaker, have received insufficient public investment over the years.
