05/11/2025
CMC Condemns Government Action
PRESS STATEMENT
Date: November 5, 2025
CMC Condemns Government Resistance to Citizen-Led Development Initiative in B**g County
The Citizens Movement for Change (CMC) expresses deep disappointment over the Ministry of Public Works’ recent rejection of its proposal for the construction of a 38-meter state of the art bridge in B**g County. This project, fully community-driven and technically sound, was intended to enhance rural connectivity, promote economic activity, and improve the daily lives of citizens in B**g County who have, for decades, suffered the negative impact of a lack of public infrastructure development.
Liberia remains a nation where communities continue to suffer from inadequate roads, unsafe crossings, and underdeveloped infrastructure, despite years of promises. When citizens and civil society step forward to fill infrastructure gaps, the government should meet them with collaboration not obstruction. While CMC appreciates the Ministry’s acknowledgment of its technical document’s submission and its stated plan for government-led construction, the Ministry’s response reflects a recurring pattern of bureaucratic resistance that undermines citizen-driven initiatives. We note the Ministry’s advice that future requests for bridge construction should include a site topography report, geotechnical investigation report, hydrological and hydraulic report, structural analysis and design, and full working drawings”.
We wish to clarify that these technical requirements were not previously requested during our initial engagement with the Ministry and that we submitted all technical documents requested by the Ministry at the time. Our proposal was submitted in good faith, guided by the urgent needs of the people, and in keeping with the Ministry’s request.
The CMC is a Political Party that is community-centered, working to drive sustainable development through citizen participation. Its proposed B**g County bridge project followed all technical and ethical standards, including environmental and structural considerations. The intent was not to compete with government programs, but to complement them, aligning with national development priorities and addressing urgent needs in underserved areas.
It is disheartening that, in a country where most rural communities lack basic infrastructure, a citizen-driven effort to mobilize resources and technical expertise for a bridge project is rejected under the pretext of bureaucratic “review”, even as citizens risk their lives crossing unsafe waterways daily. The Ministry’s new claim of a “planned” project with purported “budgetary allocation” is also bewildering, as no such claim was made when, only two weeks ago, it asked CMC to submit technical documents of its proposed project for consideration. It begs the question of exactly when the purported “budgetary allocation” was made and lends to a conclusion that the request was rejected simply because it is an undertaking of the CMC, an opposition political party.
The CMC calls on the Ministry of Public Works and the Government of Liberia to adopt a collaborative governance approach that recognizes the role of political and civic organizations, and other well-meaning Liberians, as partners in development, not as adversaries. History has proven that Liberia’s progress cannot sustainably depend solely on budgetary allocations. It requires active citizen engagement and joint accountability.
The Ministry’s rejection notwithstanding. CMC remains committed to working with the people of B**g County and other counties to advance inclusive citizen-led development. The need is immense and, although this bridge project has been rejected, there are others that still require intervention. The CMC will continue to engage citizens and aid when called upon and will continue to advocate for transparent, responsive, and participatory governance that allows Liberians to participate in rebuilding their nation, especially in the rural areas.
James M. V. Yougie
Chairman
Citizens Movement for Change (CMC)
