By Solomon T. Gaye/Nimba
The operations of seven council members working in collaboration with Superintendent Kou Gono in fulfillment of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Local Act have created serious concerns among the residents in Nimba.
The Executive Director of Kpodo Rural Development Foundation, (KRUDF), Joseph Menlor in Bahn explained that the lack of adequate representation of the nine-member council coupled with alleged failure to elect chairman of the council has paved the way for alleged corruption and other related corruption issues.
According to Menlor, the Project Management Committee (PMC) was dissolved and replaced with the creation of the MIA Local Act Committee composed of nine council members from various civil society organizations to work with the county administration in managing the county council social development funds.
“Right now, the residents in Nimba don’t know the county development budget that Superintendent Gono is working on from 2024-2025,” Menlor stated.
“Nimba is being represented by seven council members headed by Madam Beatrice Dokie. The appointment of the administrator and legal counsel position is not to the knowledge of the officials of Civil Society Organizations (CSO),” Menlor said.
Speaking also on the issue, the chairman of Nimba NGO network, Patrick Lah, said the inability of CSO executives to elect a chairman and a Co. Chairman to supervise the nine-member council in the spirit of check and balance is a complete violation that undermines transparency and accountability.
Superintendent Gono is the first executive appointee of the UP led government to steer the affairs of the county in 2024.
But since her appointment, the county administration under her watchful eyes has remained tight-lipped on a project budget approved by the government.
When the Inquirer contacted the county administration through Mr. Darius Vaye for comment, he referred the paper to the head of the seven council members, Beatrice Dokie.
Meanwhile, when contacted, Madam Dokie who is tight-lipped on the core issue stated, “I need to consult my legal counsel whether to speak or not to speak on the issue.”