Report by Selma Lomax, [email protected]
Gbarnga, Bong County – The echo heralding calls for the creation of Lower Bong as an independent county continues to gain relevance in public discourse in across Bong County.
Proponents of this quest are opting to name it “Bong Range County” and they are arguing that the split would gain dividends for inhabitants including job creation and increase in development. These reasons, they claim, are primary for propagating the new county idea.
On the other hand, those against the segmentation are terming the move as “divisive”, and tantamount to sparking “disharmony amongst the people of Bong County – who have lived for decades without tribal or religious indifferences.
People from both sides of the divide are holding firmed. Those from Lower Bong County are busy sensitizing the public on the importance of the split.
The progenitor of the Bong Range County, Senator Henry Yallah, is turning a hero at one side of the argument while becoming the villain on the other end.
While the debate continues to be trumpeted, some independent minds are looking at deciphering the argument – the good, bad and ugly.
What’s good about Bong Range County?
In their argument, some say the call for Bong Range County stems from the desire of many in that part of the county seeking freedom from what they are terming as “political bondage.”
They are blaming some politicians for projecting themselves as the only “faces of the county,” by influencing major political decisions, such as appointments of local officials.
Same as it is being said about Nimba County’s Senator Prince Y. Johnson, who has proven to be the only arrowhead politician in the county.
Like the Nimba scenario, many of the folks of Lower Bong County feel a few individuals have also overtaken the county politics and that the breakaway would ensure political freedom.
Others say reconciliation in Bong County is only cosmetic to the extent that it is spoken during public programs but not in actions.
Senator Yallah, many say, now wants to be the arrowhead along with others in the new Bong Range County should they succeed in having a new county.
Like Nimba, the political influence of Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor has taken the limelight in the push for a new Bong Range County.
Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor, before excelling to her current position, won two successive senatorial elections.
Madam Taylor fell out with Edward Karfiah, one of the backbones behind the creation of the Bong Range County, and campaigned against his re-election.
Now Representative Karfiah, Senator Yallah and others believe the influence of Vice President Taylor in the entire Bong County is too strong to beat and a divided Bong could see some of them rising to prominence on side of the geographic location.
While others see the process as divisive, some also want to rise to prominence because their ambitions are being kept under the carpet by another powerful politician.
As one political analyst, James Saybay, puts it “when people feel that nothing can be done in Bong County without them by making the county looks like their personal property, other people will push for freedom”.
Another prominent Bong native, former district three lawmaker George Mulbah said freedom comes through many forms by division based on geographic location like is the current situation of the push for a Bong Range County.
Some say Bong County is not united as it appears in the public and politicians from the county are very bitter with each other but are rather pretending to the public that all is well.
“There is always a big fight between politicians from Bong County, all wanting to show that they are more powerful, so reconciliation is just a lip service”, one observer told FPA.
How is Bong Division Bad?
While those pushing for the creation of Bong Range County would think that political suppression is the basis for their struggle, the ramifications for a new county are huge both within the county and nationally.
Until now, Social development Fund from the resource belt has provided source of funding for numerous projects under the County Development Fund (CDF) projects for Bong County.
On the other hand, the railway being used by Arcellor Mittal for which the company has been making contributions to the Social Development Fund of Bong County would remain with the people of Upper Bong County. Same as the Turkish owned MNG Mining Company.
Upper Bong would claim the better infrastructure including Cuttington University, Phebe and CB Dunbar hospitals, the Bong County Technical College, amongst others health and educational facilities.
Big Financial constraints
President George Weah-led government is pushing a pro-poor agenda, where it says it intends to invest more resources into relieving the average Liberian from poverty and such a policy would make it difficult to create additional financial constraints by creating a new county, which would entail new local administrations, two senators and perhaps new representatives in keeping with the threshold set by the National Legislature few years ago.
The Bong Range County could boast of higher population than counties such as Grand Kru, Gbarpolu, Rivercess and others but the overhead cost of a new county could add huge burden on the pro-poor government already looking for resources to embark on ambitious infrastructure projects.
Hurdles for Bong Range County
The creation of Bong Range County is likely to hit rocks at the National Legislature and even at the level of the presidency.
In keeping with Article 34 of the Constitution of Liberia, 1986 the National legislature has the power to create new political subdivisions.
Vice President Howard-Taylor is the head of the Liberia Senate even though without voting rights except in the case of a tied vote.
As head of the Liberian Senate, she wields influence and with indications she is one of many opposed to the split, she could use her influence to thwart the process.
Should the creation of the Bong Range County be successful at the level of the Legislature, it requires the signature of the president and vice president, who hails from Bong, could lobby with the President to avoid the creation of a new county.
Until now, it is not known who are the financier behind the creation of the Bong Range County but one thing is common is that the passage of such legislation would require deep pocket lobbying with the Legislature.
Senator Yallah is the major visible sponsor of the idea but perhaps there are financiers behind the scene putting in support.
In politics, anything is possible but there is no clue as to who is willing to pump the dollars into the lobbying process for the Bong Range County when the government might not be in support due to the underlying financial implications.
There are also already infighting amongst politicians from Lower Bong with some saying Senator Yallah and others might be fighting a battle that they themselves will not be able to enjoy as they could be pushed aside when the revolution is successful.
The Ugly Side
There are few counties in Liberia that subscribe strong to traditional practices and beliefs and with Lofa as one of those counties that hold unto tradition, Bong County is another.
Over the last decades, there has been no issue of tribal, religious and other division amongst the people of Bong County. This could be one of the stumbling blocks to the creation of a new county because the people hold together strongly.
While the politicians are looking at their political interest, the people feel a divided county is not good for their tradition.
On the social media and on radio stations in the county, many have been venting out their anger at the proponents for the division Bong County. While politicians come and go, the local tradition does not really fade.
The level of resentment from the people will be a key deciding factor in this process.