BUCHANAN, Grand Bassa – The National Security Council Secretariat has held a training to equip county superintendents to more effectively serve in their respective roles as heads of the county security council.

The four-day training took place in Buchanan last week with 13 superintendents in attendance. River Cess was represented by the assistant superintendent for fiscal affairs while Bong’s county information officer took the place of the county head.

The national security sector reform coordinator leading the training, Samuel F. Dakana, said the training was important because the superintendents were all civilians and needed to get some security-related training to enable them to perform actively as heads of their county security councils.

Dakana noted that the training would make the superintendents better able to manage the security and developmental affairs of their respective counties.

“So, it also flags the issues of development,” he said. “How do they scratch up developmental agenda that has security implication? How do they develop a county security plan that will help to enhance the safety and development of the county?”

The superintendents were drilled through their roles and responsibilities as chairs of the county security councils, the National Code of Conduct, their knowledge of laws, and ethical standards.

The training was held by the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs in collaboration with the Ministry of Internal Affairs. It was supported by the Folke Bernadotte Academy, the Swedish government agency for peace, security, and development.

Dakana told reporters that in 2008 when the National Security Strategy was being developed, the county security councils were created to allow citizens to participate in the security governance of their communities.

As a result, in each county, county superintendents chair the county security council and officials from government agencies, heads of law enforcement agencies in the county, and development partners and civil society institutions serve as members.

Dakana said the county security councils are meant to mimic the National Security Council that is chaired by the president.

Two years ago, Dakana said the National Security Council Secretariat began working with the Folke Bernadotte Academy to conduct an assessment of the county security councils. The assessment revealed a need for training.

“Because of limited funding, we resolved to start with the county superintendents and then later, we filter down to the statutory superintendents, commissioners, paramount chiefs, and clan chiefs,” he said. “So, what you are seeing here now is the County Security Council Leadership Seminar Series. The program is developed in five phases, and so this is phase two for the superintendents.”

He noted that the seminar will help to improve the governance of the country as the superintendents’ and other local leaders’ capacity will be enhanced through the training.

Featured photo by Sampson David