Mills Jones
Mills Jones
Joseph Mills Jones commonly known as Dr. Mills Jones is a Liberian politician and Former Executive Governor Central Bank of Liberia.
Joseph Mills Jones was born in Sinoe County, to the union of Mr. Joseph Humphrey Jones and Mrs. Catherine Cooper Jones.
His father was a small businessman and his mother a school teacher.
He did his primary education at the St Joseph Catholic School in Greenville, Sinoe County, graduating at the top of his class, and received a high school diploma from the Bishop Ferguson High School in Maryland County, also at the top of his class.
Joseph Mills Jones earned a bachelor degree in economics from Cuttington College, now Cuttington University (Magna Cum Laude), completing his studies in less than the prescribed four years.
He also holds master and doctorate degrees in economics from the American University, Washington, D.C.
After completing his studies in the United States, Dr. Jones returned home within three days to take a position as Assistant Minister of State for Presidential Affairs working on economic issues.
He later joined the Ministry of Planning and Economics Affairs as Chief Economist and Special Assistant to the Minister of Planning and Economic Affairs.
Dr. Jones has served in senior positions in both the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.His
last position in Washington D.C. with the Bretton Woods Institutions was Alternate Executive Director of the World Bank for Africa Group I, comprising 22 countries. He
was appointed Executive Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia in 2006, and subsequently reappointed in 2011 to a second five year term.
As CBL Governor, Dr. Jones plays a key role in managing the Liberian economy, and was an important member of the team that managed the debt relief process for heavily indebted poor countries with the IMF.
The CBL under Dr. Jones’ leadership has been particularly keen to promote Liberian entrepreneurship, through several programs directed at increasing access to finance for Liberian businesses, including the Liberian Marketing Association, Petty Traders, Farmers and women in the villages in all 15 counties of Liberia through Village Savings and Loan Associations.
Presently, there are 675 registered VSLAs.
Dr. Jones has also been instrumental in reviving the Credit Union sector in the country, which now comprises some 375 unions, from 29 in 2011.
The CBL had also helped to promote the mortgage industry in Liberia, being cognizant of the importance of housing for the economy and the well being of the Liberia people.
[2]The CBL under the leadership of Dr. Jones has also spearheaded the establishment of Rural Community Finance Institution in various parts of the country, including areas that had not seen a banking institution before.
These initiatives are owned by the community where they are established and individuals who may be living elsewhere, but come from that area.
There are 7 RCFIs now in operation.
As a result of this effort, all 15 counties in Liberia now have at least one financial institution.
All of these activities are aimed at helping the Government to reduce poverty in Liberia.
Dr. Jones has attended several high level international conferences and has traveled widely, which provided him a wide range of experiences.
Dr. Jones was honored in 2013 by Cuttington University with a degree of Doctor of Humane Letters (Honoris Causa) and the Distinguished Alumni Award.
He has also been honored by the National Traditional Council of Liberia as well as several community groups and organizations.
Dr. Mills J. Jones, has accepted a petition from some citizens to contest the presidency in 2017 and he says job creation will be the watchword of his government, promising to lead a government that is business- friendly.