Liberia’s House of Representatives has passed a bill recommending that the country’s political capital be moved to central Liberia, according to Ceasefire Liberia blogger Nat Nyuan-Bayjay. The House did not recommend a specific city.
This is a fantastic idea. The representative who sponsored the bill said he proposed it because Monrovia is overcrowded. True, but I think an even better reason is to further Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s mission to decentralize the country.
Of course, one wonders if this bill passes how on earth the move would be financed.
According to this article (http://allafrica.com/stories/200909081156.html), the move would cost $10 billion. Even if it costs less than $10 billion – say, $50 million! – that is still ludicrous for a country whose annual budget doesn’t exceed $400million. I really don’t see how that could be a priority, and why it matters at the moment. Aren’t there more important things for lawmakers to deal with?