By Grace Q. Bryant
The president of the United Methodist University, Yar Donlah Gonway-Gono, has threatened current and former lawmakers over unpaid tuition for scholarship students.
Speaking yesterday on the campus of the university, Madam Gonway-Gono said, “We have been unable to meet payroll needs of our staffers at the University for the past five months because of unpaid tuition from most students and their sponsors. Most of those indebted are United Methodists, current and former lawmakers and private individuals.”
According to her, the total money owned by individuals is over USD$ 200,000 adding, “How do you expect the United Methodist University to survive when its major clients owe the University such money?”
She revealed that the overseas partners especially those in the United Methodist Church are not supporting the University due to the global separation issues that the church is experiencing.
She disclosed that the pastors and members of the Liberia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church have not kept their promises to support the university, “not only that, but these are also the same people who send their children, relatives and friends here and expect them to be educated free without paying tuition.”
“The financial challenges we face are not just hurdles to overcome but existential threats. Our ability to pay our faculty and staff to continue operating is at stake,” she noted.
She added, “We have not received our salaries for five months. The situation is dire, and we need your support now more than ever.”
She therefore called on sponsors especially those indebted to the University to make their payments between now and July 6 adding, “Failure to do so, additional action will be taken, including but not limited to publishing the names of those who are indebted to the University.”
