Former Liberian Ambassador Jeremiah Sulunteh commends the government for decentralizing passport application processes with new centers in Gbarnga, Bong, and Zwedru, Grand Gedeh Counties. This strategy aims to make passport services more accessible to citizens outside Monrovia and in the Diaspora.
Sulunteh, who represented Liberia’s diplomatic interests in the United States of America, Mexico, and Canada, while reflecting on his tenure as ambassador, highlights the Dual Citizenship Campaign and the establishment of honorary councils to decentralize the diplomatic mission.
The National Passport Application Centers initiative aligns with the decentralization agenda of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s administration. Sulunteh, in an interview, said he is impressed by the decision of the government to decentralize the issuance of passports in the Country–an initiative that is also replicated in Liberian Diaspora communities, especially across the USA.
.”Politics aside, I am impressed by the government’s decentralization process for the National Passport Application Centers. This will prevent our people from traveling to Monrovia just to obtain their passports,” Sulunteh said.
He added that the National Passport Application Centers initiative represents both a proud moment for the Ministry and a significant step forward in the decentralization agenda of the government.
Sulunteh emphasized the importance of local access to essential services for national development. He appreciates the government’s efforts to simplify passport application processes for individuals like businesspeople, students, and frequent travelers.
He encouraged citizens to utilize the centers for the overall effectiveness and productivity of the government’s decentralization program.
“We are optimistic that these will also come to fruition in terms of functioning,” he stressed.
The launch of Regional Passport Application Centers in Bong and Grand Gedeh Counties last week by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is seen as a significant achievement under the leadership of Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cllr. Deweh Gray, said at the launch that the newly established centers aim to make passport services more accessible, particularly for citizens in remote areas who have previously faced challenges due to the centralization of these services in Monrovia.
Minister Gray said the centralization of passport services created logistical and financial challenges for residents of remote counties, often requiring them to travel long distances to apply for passports.
The initiative aims to enhance service accessibility, particularly for residents of remote areas who were previously inconvenienced by centralized passport services in Monrovia. The establishment of these centers is expected to streamline passport application procedures, reduce travel costs and time for applicants, and improve service delivery efficiency.
