By Laurina B Lormia (Cub-Reporter)
River Gee County Superintendent, Mike Swengbe, has categorically denied accusations of misappropriating funds allocated for the county meet competition.
Recently, accusations claim that, River Gee County Senators Jonathan Boye Charles Sogbie, Francis Dopoh, and Superintendent Swengbe, siphoned funds intended for the county’s participation in the just ended 2024 County Meets.
They have also been accused of politicizing the victory celebration, which was planned to be held in the county last week; this has forced some players and residents from other districts in the county to boycott the program and insist that they account for the entrusted funds.
Responding to the allegations in an interview with Journalists in Monrovia over the weekend, Superintendent Swengbe labeled the allegations as “false, misleading, and diabolical lies” aimed at tarnishing their reputation, administration, and disappointingly to undermine the county’s successful county meet competition victory.
According to him, all funds were managed transparently and accounted for in accordance with financial regulations and he therefore urged the public to dismiss the rumors with the assurance that an internal audit would be conducted to further substantiate the integrity of the financial handling.
There were no financial reports provided to the public or the county without the conclusion of the project or activities that commemorate the victory, there have been series of activities which includes celebration in Monrovia and the touring of the South East adding, “We believe in transparency and accountability, and will provide the report there is nothing to hide.”
Superintendent Swengbe asserted that, those funds that were given to the team directly through its coach will not be accounted for in the financial report rather those funds that were given to the county Sports Staring committee that he chairs.
He assured that every cents that was provided to the staring committee by Liberian in the diaspora and internal citizens was properly spent on the team; something he believes brought about the immediate victory.
“I don’t have the data now but I have some names off-hand that give support to the sports steering committee and they are, Amos Tweh, he provided US$ 1,700; Cllr. Warner, US$1, 000; Dr. Chris D. Nah US$ 2000; Amb. Norah Finda Bundoo, US$ 9,000 and Senator Sogbie provided great help that just can’t be told off-head,” he disclosed.
Meanwhile, the River Gee County Sports Steering committee Chairperson said those who are breastfeeding such allegations are those he claimed have political interest and are being jealous yet, to understand the strategy, blueprint and philosophy they used to bring the county victory in a heated competition.
He concluded that, despite the major issues is financial report, “We will provide the public with the comprehensive financial report between Wednesday of this week as the activities leading to the celebration of the victory has finally climaxed.
