Ganta City Mayor Samuel S. Hardt has disclosed that approximately US$150,000 has been secured to complete the long-delayed Ganta City Hall project, raising hopes that the city will soon have a modern administrative complex capable of supporting its rapid growth and expanding governance needs.
Speaking recently in Ganta, Mayor Hardt said the funds will enable authorities to finish the construction project, which has remained stalled since 2023 despite growing public concern over its status.
According to the Mayor, the completed facility will significantly improve municipal operations by providing adequate office space and modern amenities for city administration.
“We are going to have numerous office spaces, a very large conference room, a mini-conference room, and an area for recreation,” Hardt said. “Ganta is growing very fast, and we need a decent and spacious office.”
The Ganta City Hall project was initiated during the administration of former President George Weah but came to a halt following the 2023 elections that ushered in the government of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
The prolonged delay has sparked questions among residents, particularly because Ganta is the political home of Liberia’s sitting Vice President. Many citizens have expressed concern over why the project remained unfinished despite its significance to one of Liberia’s fastest-growing urban centers.
Mayor Hardt attributed the renewed momentum to the intervention of the Nimba County Administration under Superintendent Kou Meapeh Gono, who increased funding support for the project.
“The county initially earmarked US$50,000, but later Superintendent Gono decided to increase the amount to US$100,000 to finish the project once and for all,” Hardt explained.
He praised the county leadership and national government for supporting development initiatives across Nimba County.
“We are very happy for the Superintendent and the national leadership, who have enabled the county to carry out numerous development projects,” he said. “Ganta is growing very fast, and we need a modern administrative facility that reflects that growth.”
The completion of the City Hall would mark a historic milestone for Ganta, which gained city status in the late 1970s but has never had a permanent, purpose-built municipal headquarters.
For decades, successive city administrations operated from rented facilities or private residences due to the lack of a dedicated city office.
In 2004, former Mayor Nohn Tensonnoh constructed the current city office as a quick-impact project through contributions from residents and well-wishers. However, since her departure from office, little progress had been made toward expanding or modernizing the city’s administrative infrastructure.
Efforts to construct a larger and more modern city office resurfaced in 2022 when former Nimba County District #1 Representative Samuel Brown initiated plans for a new municipal complex. Construction began, but disputes over the project’s funding sources and political ownership slowed progress.
As the 2023 elections approached, the Office of the President reportedly provided additional support for the project, but the building remained incomplete.
Since assuming office, Mayor Hardt said he has actively engaged stakeholders and lobbied for the project’s completion as part of a broader vision to modernize Ganta.
“I want to see Ganta become modern,” he said. “But a modern city also requires a modern office that meets international standards.”
City authorities believe the completion of the new City Hall will strengthen local governance, improve public service delivery, and provide the administrative capacity needed to manage Ganta’s continued urban expansion and economic growth.
