COTTON TREE, MARGIBI COUNTY, LIBERIA — The Center for National Documents and Records Agency (CNDRA), commonly known as the National Archives, has officially opened a new sub-office in Cotton Tree, Lower Margibi County. The initiative is part of an ongoing national strategy to decentralize records management services across Liberia.
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The opening ceremony, held on Thursday, October 22, 2026, aligns with the Government of Liberia’s broader decentralization agenda under the leadership of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr., which seeks to bring essential public services closer to citizens. The establishment of the facility also marks a practical step in implementing the CNDRA’s five-year strategic plan, specifically fulfilling its core pillar on service decentralization.
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Speaking at the event, CNDRA Director General Hon. D. Nelson Bearngar explained that the new office will expand access to records management, strengthen collaboration with county-level institutions, promote proper preservation of public records, and improve overall institutional efficiency. Director General Bearngar emphasized that establishing sub-offices across the country reduces the travel burden and financial costs for rural residents seeking official documentation and archive services. He assured the public that the Agency remains committed to further expanding its presence into additional communities and counties.
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In his charge to the staff assigned to the new Cotton Tree facility, Director General Bearngar urged them to carry out their duties with passion, integrity, patience, and unwavering dedication to public service. He also expressed gratitude to the local leadership of Margibi County for their cooperation and partnership. Highlighting Margibi’s performance, he commended the county for its recent achievements in domestic revenue generation, noting that it had surpassed Nimba County in revenue performance, and encouraged CNDRA sub-offices nationwide to bolster their revenue collection efforts for the national treasury.
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Representing Margibi County Superintendent Victoria W. Duncan, Ambassador Richard D. Jah, Coordinator of the Margibi County Service Center, congratulated the CNDRA leadership on successfully opening the facility. Ambassador Jah praised the initiative as a transformative step for the residents of Lower Margibi, noting that localized access will significantly ease the operational challenges citizens previously faced when attempting to retrieve or file official documents.
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Providing an overview of the program, CNDRA Director of Programs, Planning, and Projects Zouan Worzon stated that the Agency’s overarching strategy is to build a decentralized, accessible, efficient, and sustainable national records system that supports sound public administration and preserves Liberia’s documentary history. Director Worzon detailed that the Cotton Tree Sub-Office will function as a direct focal point between the CNDRA headquarters and the people of Margibi County, providing administrative guidance, public records information, and authorized agency services.
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Director Worzon added that the project aligns with the national priorities outlined in the Fiscal Year 2026 National Budget and the Agency’s Annual Action Implementation Plan. Furthermore, the initiative contributes to the CNDRA’s resource mobilization goals and supports its overall performance indicators under the government’s Performance Management and Compliance System.
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The ceremony was attended by county officials, local leaders, civil society representatives, and community members. The Cotton Tree facility joins an expanding network of CNDRA regional offices and service centers operating in major urban hubs across the country, including Buchanan, Kakata, Ganta, Gbarnga, Voinjama, and Tubmanburg.
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