As national discussions around Liberia’s proposed Port Bill gain momentum, a parallel and more far-reaching constitutional debate has emerged following a proposal by Togar Alexander Bealded advocating for a federal system of government in Liberia.
Bealded, a Liberian journalist, activist, and political commentator, argues that federalism would fundamentally restructure governance by devolving power and resources from the central government to the counties. Under his proposal, revenues generated within a county particularly from ports, natural resources, and local economic activities would be primarily retained for that county’s development, with only a defined percentage remitted to the national government.
“What counties generate should be used to develop those counties,” Bealded said. “A smaller, clearly defined share can go to the national government to run federal responsibilities, but development must start where the resources are produced.”
Federalism Linked to Port Development
Bealded’s proposal has drawn attention in the context of renewed debate over Liberia’s port infrastructure, including the strategic importance of the Port of Buchanan in Grand Bassa County and other regional ports. Supporters of decentralization argue that if counties directly controlled revenues from such assets, port cities could see faster improvements in roads, sanitation, education, and healthcare.
According to Bealded, federalism would also introduce local accountability through elections, allowing citizens to directly elect mayors, superintendents, and county legislators rather than having key local officials appointed by the central government.
“When leaders are elected locally and funded locally, they are directly accountable to the people,” he said. “That is how development accelerates at the county level.”
Unitary State Under Scrutiny
Currently, Liberia operates under a unitary system, where fiscal authority, political appointments, and major policy decisions are centralized in Monrovia. Critics of the system have long complained that it concentrates power and resources in the capital, leaving counties dependent on limited budgetary allocations and political goodwill.
Bealded contends that this structure has slowed regional development and deepened inequality between Monrovia and the rest of the country. He believes federalism would allow counties to plan and execute development programs based on local priorities rather than national political calculations.
Background and Political Standing
Bealded brings both academic and political experience to the debate. He has completed a Master’s degree in Government, Diplomacy, and Conflict Studies and is currently pursuing a second Master’s in Health Administration and Public Health Leadership while studying abroad. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication with emphasis in English from United Methodist University, Liberia. Politically, he contested legislative elections in 2017 and 2023, representing his home county of Grand Bassa.
As discussions over the Port Bill continue, Bealded’s federalism proposal has sparked growing public conversation on governance reform, decentralization, and the future structure of the Liberian state issues that many observers believe will increasingly shape the country’s political landscape ahead of future constitutional and electoral debates.
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