Liberia Validates Legal Texts for the Establishment of the Transboundary Water Basin Management Office of the Mano River Union
Monrovia, 17 October 2025 — The Government of Liberia, in collaboration with the ECOWAS Commission and the Mano River Union (MRU), organized a national validation workshop on the legal texts establishing the Transboundary Water Basin Management Office (TWBMO) of the MRU.
Held from 16 to 17 October 2025 in Monrovia, the event marks a major milestone toward the creation of a regional institutional framework for the joint and sustainable management of shared water resources.
Strong Political Commitment to Regional Water Cooperation
The opening ceremony was chaired by Cllr. Eric B. Morlu, Senior Legal Advisor at the Ministry of Finance and Development, representing the Government of Liberia.
He commended the initiative as “a solid foundation for peace, prosperity, and inclusive growth” within the Mano River Basin.
Mrs. Ama Gborie Foday, Deputy Secretary-General of the MRU in charge of Economic Development and Regional Integration, described the workshop as “a significant step toward establishing a regional mechanism that promotes sustainable, equitable, and cooperative management of shared water resources.”
H.E. Ambassador Josephine Nkrumah, ECOWAS Resident Representative in Liberia, reaffirmed ECOWAS’s commitment to supporting integrated water resources governance as a pillar of peace and regional integration.
Liberia’s Contributions Strengthen the Legal Framework
Participants from various Liberian ministries and public institutions conducted a comprehensive review of the draft legal and institutional texts.
Their comments and recommendations enhanced the clarity and coherence of the documents through measures such as:
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Reorganizing the chapters of the Establishment Protocol;
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Introducing clear institutional reporting lines to strengthen accountability;
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Creating thematic units on Gender and Climate Change;
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Revising the Administrative and Financial Procedures Manual to improve transparency and internal controls.
The contributions of the Liberian stakeholders will be incorporated into the final report for regional validation by ECOWAS and the MRU.
A Decisive Step Toward Integrated Water Governance in West Africa
At the end of the two-day workshop, participants reaffirmed Liberia’s strong commitment to contributing to the establishment of a regional mechanism for coordinated water management.
The creation of the TWBMO represents an essential milestone for water security, conflict prevention, and climate resilience across the Mano River Basin.
Key Facts
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Dates: 16–17 October 2025
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Venue: Murex Plaza Hotel & Suites, Monrovia
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Organizers: MRU, ECOWAS, IUCN
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Objective: National validation of the legal texts for the Transboundary Water Basin Management Office (TWBMO)