MCC Observes 53RD Monrovia Day

By: R. Joyclyn Wea

The City Government of Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) has celebrated the 43rd observance of Monrovia Day Ordinance No. 4 with the theme: “Smart Action for a Smart City.”

February 16 each year is declared a holiday within the City of Monrovia to be observed “Monrovia Day” to generate a sense of identity and to increase the level of awareness of the residents and accelerate the pace of development in the city.

The day is to be marked with appropriate programs at which time the Mayor of the City shall report to the residents activities including the progress made and problem encountered during the period under review.

“Monrovia Day” was created by a Legislative Act approved July 19, 1973 and published August 16, 1973 repealed the 1922 Act creating the Commonwealth District of Monrovia and created in lieu thereof, the City of Monrovia, Montserrado County has granted it a Charter, thus resting the municipal status with an elected mayor of eleven councilors.

Serving as keynote speaker for the event, Liberia Revenue Authority Commissioner General, Thomas Doe-Nah termed the issue of waste in Monrovia and its environs as a mentality problem that needs education if the illegal disposal of dirt must stop.

“The situation about waste in the country is not with the huge pile of dirt on the streets rather market women and citizens approach to waste disposal,” he emphasized.

Doe-Nah further that the idea of up keeping Monrovia City should not only be generated by the City Government, but citizens themselves must get involve in ensuring the street and environment is clean, better, and safe at all time.

According to him, the corporation should not only be about waste collection but also transforming the city.

“Not only are we dumping dirt in the streets; we are destroying the country with plastics. Therefore, citizens should take ownership of the city ordinance saying “smart city requires collective collaboration, and partnership; think smart and brand the city,” Commissioner Nah indicated.

Also remarking, MCC Mayor, Jefferson Koijee apologized for not celebrating the day in the past years as required by the Act thus, calling on residents of the City to unite and join forces with the City Corporation in order to foster the collective growth of the nation.

He explained that there are many ways to generate revenue for the City to contribute toward Central Government adding “The City Government had turned the corporation from just logistics, financial, to human capacity development.”

Koijee mentioned that under his one-year leadership, the city government have also been able to increase reform in revenue generation, ensure public safety and trained more than thirty young people working with the city parking service.

From 1835 to 1922 the city of Monrovia existed as a municipal government. The Legislative Act of February 8, 1922 abolished the municipal status of the city of Monrovia and created in lieu thereof a Commonwealth District with a Commissioner who served as Ceremonial Head of Commonwealth District.

The first mayor and eleven councilors, of MCC in 53 years were inaugurated on February 16, 1976 and thus restoring to the residents their right to manage the affairs of their city, and therefore it is ordained by the Common Council of the Monrovia City Corporation. TNR

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