By P. Stephen Tokpah-Bong Freelancer & Solomon T. Gaye-Nimba
Like the Superintendent of Gbarpolu, Superintendents Hawa Norris and Kou Meapeh Gono have both announced separately that they too will initiate audits of their respective county funds.
Further elaborating following her induction ceremony on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at the administrative building in the county capital city, Superintendent Norris stated that she will hold people accountable for monies that were intended for citizens, but have allegedly been misappropriated without any visible outcomes.
She disclosed plans to work with citizens to improve their lives and collaborate with other development partners to undertake more development activities across the county.
The Bong County Superintendent revealed that she will work along with the Bong County Legislative Caucus for the overall development of the County.
The Bong County’s four female superintendents said the county and its people deserve better, stressing the need for more development and opportunities to empower young people of the county through education and jobs.
Superintendent Hawa Norris promised that her leadership would uphold peace and focus on the President’s development agenda.
Superintendent Norris’s statement came after a warning from the Minister of Internal Affairs, Francis Nyumalin, who urged her leadership not to engage in any form of corruption.
According to Minister Francis Nyumalin, the administration of President Joseph Boakai is against corruption, and as such, none of his followers should engage in such practices.
Liberia’s Minister of Internal Affairs further sent a strong caveat to traditional chiefs and elders of Bong County to disengage from political activities.
Minister Francis Nyumalin said the Constitution of Liberia prohibits traditional chiefs and elders from engaging in political acts because they are the first contact of conflict resolution.
According to him, during the just-ended 2023 General Elections, many chiefs and elders of Liberia were seen heavily involved in supporting political parties.
He further encouraged the Bong County chiefs and elders who still had in their position materials of parties to either destroy them or offer them to supporters of politicians.
At the same time, Minister Nyumalin warned traditional leaders and every Liberian against the misuse of the culture of Liberia, especially using the bush master or Country Devil to protest.
According to him, some individuals who do not understand the norms of the Liberian culture have, over the years, misused cultural activities in Liberia, as such, the Liberian culture has come to public ridicule.
For her part, the outgoing Superintendent of Bong County, Esther Walker, has called on the newly appointed Superintendent of the county, Hawa Norris, to hold on to the earnings and benefits of the Project Management Committee until a satisfactory report is made to the County Council for an award presentation to the new leadership of the county.
Former Superintendent Walker attributed her call to the alleged refusal of all former members of the Project Management Committee to report to her office over the past six years, since the enlistment of the County Council by the Local Government Act.
While Nimba County Superintendent Gono, was inducted along with Peter Karngbaye, Development County Officer, a Financial Officer, along with Ganta and Sanniquellie Mayors.
The Sanniquellie City Mayor, Zramein Zinor, spoke at the official ceremony, held at the city hall along with the Internal Affairs Minister Francis Nyumalin who said, the induction of Superintendent Gono and her co-workers is mandatory by President Joseph Boakai, and in line with the Constitution of Liberia.
Speaking on behalf of the outgoing local authorities, Superintendent Nelson Korquoi thanked former President Weah for the level of developments carried out in the county.
“President Weah will forever be remembered by the people in Nimba for his numerous developments,” former Superintendent Korquoi stated.
“We took over the county with nothing, but we completed 56 projects,” Korquoi disclosed.
Superintendent Gono then vowed to audit past and present county administrations to account for government funds intended for development purposes.
“My administration will respect the rule of law, promote youth empowerment programs, girl education in rural areas, and others,” Superintendent Gono said.
Speaking on behalf of the legislative caucus, Representative Sam Kogar frowned at the UP-led government for their alleged dismissal of chiefs and other local authorities.
“Many of the chiefs that were appointed to serve in their various traditional capacities have been removed and replaced with UP partisans,” Kogar lamented.
