Gbarnga, Bong County — Mr. Caimon Joe Kollie, a native of Bong County and resident in the United States of America, has announced his intentions to contest the presidency of the United Bong County Association in the Americas (UBCAA) in the upcoming general elections, slated for July this year.
Kollie promised to build a robust organization that will consolidate the vast human and material resources that are available in the community to benefit natives of Bong at home and in America.
“Together, we can work to build a strong organization that will enhance our diversity and strengthen our union,” Kollie said in a dispatch.
Born November 12, 1972, in Gbamokollieta, Sanoyea District, Bong County, Liberia, unto the union of Yoquelleh Warnpeh and Chief Sumo Gbamokollie, Kollie said his desire to contest the presidency of UBCAA is work in building a robust and well-structural organization to strengthen the union and mobilize the much-needed human and material resources to serve UBCAA’s membership, youth, elderly, and those with special needs in the Diaspora as well as in Bong County, Liberia.
Kollie also hopes to create a collaborative partnership with Bong County citizens, stakeholders, Bong County affiliated organizations, and community partners to address the needs in our community. Kollie states, “that he has a team of professionals and community leaders that are ready to put in place robust administrative and practical operations to mobilize our rich human and material resources to bring to bear in providing the much-needed support to our people.” Bong County’s citizens, former residents, and friends of Bong in the United States, Canada, and other parts of the world individually have done well in many cases, and are willing to give back to their communities, but there must be a well-structured organization for our people to channel their goodwill. We want to build UBCAA to be that organization that people can trust to direct their support to help our people.
Kollie stated that his team has what it takes to build to strengthen and revitalize existing UBCAA local chapters and establish new ones,” he said, adding “develop a national directory of Bong County citizens in the U.S.A. and Canada to know where our people are and their interests, and create a collaborative partnership in addressing our needs.
Realizing the importance of interacting with people of the County both at home and in the diaspora, Kollie said as president of UBCCA he will build an interactive professional website and other social media network that will highlight programs, operations, and activities of UBCAA, including a section, wherein members can share their suggestions and/or comments for the betterment of our UBCAA community.
“I will establish a framework for civil engagement, partnership, and accountability between UBCAA and citizens of Bong County, political leaders, civil society, community organizations, investors, small businesses, and stakeholders,” he said. Continuing, he added. “I will also establish a fully staffed UBCAA operational service in Bong County, responsible for identifying and engaging in community development projects.”
Kollie maintained that Bong is a rich mineral county that previously boosted having more than five mining companies operating in the county, but the citizens are not adequately benefiting from their natural resources.
Kollie stated that if he is given the opportunity to serve the Bong County community in the USA, he will work hard to create a collaborative partnership with international investors doing business in the county, county leaders, and civil society to find better strategy for the people of Bong County to benefit from the corporate social responsibility benefits.
Speaking about the County’s education system, Kollie stated that according to the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services, “Bong County has about 367 schools that include 14 high schools, 1 University (Cuttington University) and one Technical College (Bong County Technical College),” but its citizens are struggling to gain access to quality education.
Kollie stated that if residents of the county want to build a productive society, access to quality education should be the rights of every child.
Kollie said his team is developing an education scholarship partnership program that will encourage Bong County citizens, friends, and partners to adopt a child to benefit from education scholarship by sponsoring a child from a town, village, city or anywhere in the County.
Kollie lauded Bong County Technical College (BCTC) for conducting its first graduation exercises and graduating 22 students but stated the college administration needs to do more to be transparent in its operations so it can attract partners providing quality education to the future leaders of the County.
Kollie stated that BCTC needs help from Bong County citizens to make the college a success story. Kollie said he hopes that the BCTC leadership can be opened for a more transparent partnership with citizens and UBCAA.
He stated that we should be prepared to find answers to the hard question if we want to make a difference for our youth, especially after spending millions of dollars, over the years, and only graduating 22 students. Is that the right investment in education, Kollie rhetorically asked?
Speaking about the County’s healthcare system, Kollie stated that we need to create partnerships with healthcare institutions and healthcare providers in the County to help build a better healthcare system. He cautioned about building so many clinics without adequate medical supplies, healthcare workers, or operational infrastructure.
Speaking about the County’s agriculture sectors, Kollie said “our people need support and incentives to farm again.” He lauded those who are on the frontline providing support to farmers with seeds and other support to farm.
Kollie said we can work to create partnership in making Bong County one of the breadbaskets of the Country again. Mr. Kollie said UBCAA can create partnerships with agriculture students to make farming a career by supporting them with the technical and needed investment to make farming a lucrative business.
Kollie previously served as President and Secretary of Bong Kwatekeh Association II of Minnesota-BKA, a local chapter of UBCAA in the State of Minnesota; a former Chair, Membership Coordinating Committee, UBCAA; and former Elections Commission Chair for UBCAA in the 2015 general elections. He is currently serving as a Board Member and Secretary of the Board of Directors, BKA.
Kollie is married to his beautiful wife, Leonora Macfoy Kollie, and this 26-year-old union is blessed with six wonderful children and four grandkids. Kollie is a prominent community leader, administrator, consultant, researcher, and small business owner.
Kollie has successfully built his career in the areas of organizational development, education, social services, research, and administration. He is a result-oriented leader, who believes in being a part of the solution to a problem other than being a part of the problem; an experienced and proven community leader, with a great track record of successfully developing and implementing community-driven programs. He is a decisive leader, who does not shy away from challenging tasks, and values honesty, transparency, diversity, and outstanding performance.
Kollie holds a Master of Arts (MA) in Sociology-With College Teaching Emphasis, from Minnesota State University, Mankato, Minnesota, USA-2013, and Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Sociology and History (double major), from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, USA, -2007
United Bong County Association in the Americas (UBCAA) is a registered non-profit organization in the United States of America with members that are largely citizens, residents, and friends of Bong County, Liberia, which objectives are to provide a medium through which members can address their common concerns, provide educational and health support to citizens of Bong County, enhance social unity, and liaise with institutions/individuals to create partnerships for development programs.