The leadership and members of Liberia's House of Representatives recently paid their final respects to Dr. Ranney B. Jackson Sr., a former Bong County lawmaker and veteran public servant, during a State Funeral held at the Capitol Building in Monrovia. The ceremony was attended by members of the Legislature, government officials, family members, friends, former colleagues, and well-wishers who gathered to honor Jackson's decades of service to Liberia.
Speaker of the House Richard Nagbe Koon, speaking on behalf of the leadership and members of the House, extended condolences to the bereaved family and recognized Jackson's contributions to the Legislature and the Liberian state. The Speaker noted that the presence of the House leadership and members at the funeral reflected the institution's respect for those who have served the Liberian people under its mandate.
Dr. Jackson's public service career spanned local government, the Legislature, national administration, and public policy. He served as a member of the National Transitional Legislative Assembly (NTLA) from 2003 to 2005, representing Bong County during a critical period in Liberia's post-war transition. During his tenure, Jackson chaired the NTLA's Post and Telecommunications Committee and contributed to efforts that reduced the cost of SIM cards from US$65 to US$15 in 2005.
After his service in the transitional legislature, Jackson remained active in national politics and public administration. He made three unsuccessful bids for the Bong County senatorial seat in 2005, 2011, and 2014. He later served as Superintendent of Bong County during the first administration of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and as Deputy Minister for Operations at the Ministry of Internal Affairs during her second term.
In 2024, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai appointed Jackson as Co-Chairman of the Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Core Team, where he served alongside Chairman Cllr. Edwin Kla Martin. At the Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Task Force, Jackson's experience in governance, public administration, finance, and public policy was recognized as the government intensified efforts to trace, recover, and safeguard public assets.
Before his death, Jackson had recently earned a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration, specializing in Local Government Management and Sustainable Communities, from Walden University in the United States. His career reflected a progression through several levels of public service—from county administration and the transitional Legislature to senior positions within the national government and public policy.
Dr. Jackson died at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital in Monrovia on August 22, 2024, at the age of 74, following a brief illness. The body will be taken to Bong County on Friday, October 2, for a night of wake-keeping, followed by the funeral service and burial on Saturday.
Key points
- The House of Representatives held a State Funeral to honor Dr. Ranney B. Jackson Sr.'s decades of service to Liberia.
- Dr. Jackson served in various public roles, including lawmaker, Superintendent of Bong County, and Deputy Minister for Operations at the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
- Before his death, Dr. Jackson earned a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration from Walden University in the United States.
