EPA Hosts First Policy Council meeting

Press Release 

The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia has concluded its 1st sitting of the newly established policy council consistent with the Act establishing the EPA in 2003 at Farmington Hotel in Margibi County.

The policy council convened from May 3-4, 2024 with technical support from the EPA and UNDP with funding from the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA).

The EPA Policy Council members were drawn from Government line Ministries and Agencies, Members of the Liberian Senate and House of Representatives, the Liberia National Students Union, the Liberia National Bar Association, and the Liberia Marketing Association.

The policy council of the EPA is charged with the responsibility of setting the policy direction of the agency, as well as coordinating the vetting process that will lead to the top three (3) applicants being selected from a competitive process for onward submission to the office of the President for selection of one (1) person to be named as Executive Director/CEO of the Agency with a tenure of 7 years.

This provision is in Section 16 of the Act that established the EPA.

The policy council’s authority is also to constitute the EPA Board which will work alongside the Executive Director and Management team to actualize the day-to-day activities of the Agency.

The Saturday sitting is described as a milestone as it sets the basis as well for the establishment of the County and District Environmental Committees to support the decentralization of the Agency consistent with provisions in the EPA Act.

The weekend gathering demonstrates the Government’s commitment,   to follow the legal steps to appoint an Executive Director/CEO of the EPA who will enjoy 7 years tenure.

The constitution of a Board will similarly vet the Deputy Executive Director of the Agency, as well as ensure the establishment of County and District Environmental Committees consistent with legal instruments guiding the Agency.