By Grace Q. Bryant
The General Services Agency (GSA) has announced significant strides in enhancing the maintenance of public buildings and government assets across Liberia.
During a regular press briefing hosted by the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs, and Tourism (MICAT), Director General Galakpai Kortimai highlighted the agency’s achievements, challenges, and future plans for improving government property management and vehicle maintenance.
The GSA has reactivated its Public Building Maintenance Department, assuming full responsibility for the upkeep of all government-owned properties, including those leased from private owners.
Director Kortimai revealed that the GSA recently completed comprehensive assessments of several key government buildings, including the LEC complex, the National Fire Service building, the Bureau of State Enterprises electrical section, the ECOWAS building in Congo Town, the BWI campus, and the National Armed Forces Commission building near the Executive Mansion.
“These assessments are crucial to ensuring that these facilities are properly maintained and renovated as needed. We are now awaiting reports from the respective utilizing agencies, after which our professional team will undertake the necessary renovation works,” he stated.
The GSA has also commenced an assessment of the Ministry of Information’s facilities, signaling a broader effort to cover all government properties.
Director General Kortimai called on all ministries and agencies to collaborate with the GSA for maintenance and minor renovation works, emphasizing that the agency is fully equipped and funded by the government to handle such tasks.
Meanwhile, the GSA is set to establish a modern garage at its compound and that facility will be constructed in partnership with private entities and will be equipped to service all government vehicles, ensuring they are well-maintained and reducing reliance on external garages, which often deliver subpar work.
“We are committed to ensuring value for money by properly maintaining government vehicles. This modern garage will be a game-changer, and we urge all ministries, agencies, and commissions to utilize it once operational,” he said.
According to the Director General, the GSA plans to embark on a county tour to assess government buildings and presidential palaces across Liberia. Many of these structures, particularly the presidential palaces, have fallen into disrepair over the years.
The GSA aims to restore these facilities to their former glory, ensuring they are suitable for presidential visits and other official functions. The tour is scheduled to take place after the rainy season, with a focus on robustly renovating these buildings to meet the President’s needs during his county tours.
The Director General also outlined the agency’s process for assessing and disposing of depreciated government assets, including vehicles, computers, and furniture. The GSA employs various methods, such as auctioning, granting, and donating items to entities in need.
“We have a transparent process for disposing of government assets. We ensure that vehicles and other assets are properly assessed before being scrapped, auctioned, or donated to ensure they are no longer of use to the government,” he explained.
The GSA has introduced a practice known as “cannibalism,” where parts from older, non-operational vehicles are used to repair other vehicles, thereby extending their service life and saving costs.
Director General Kortimai acknowledged the challenges the GSA faces, particularly in providing vehicles for international guests. The agency has had to rely on borrowing vehicles from other ministries and agencies due to a lack of dedicated guest cars in the government fleet.
He expressed hope that the next budget will include provisions for purchasing vehicles specifically for guest use.
“Having dedicated vehicles for international guests is essential for the smooth operation of official events,” the Director General stated. “We are working towards ensuring that these vehicles are available and well-maintained.”
Kortimai concluded by calling for collaboration between the GSA and other government entities to ensure the efficient management and maintenance of public assets.
“The GSA’s efforts represent a significant step forward in enhancing the management of government properties and vehicles, demonstrating the agency’s commitment to improving public service delivery in Liberia,” he concluded.