Belemue, Panta District, Bong County – Residents of Belemue Town in Panta District, Bong County have lauded their lawmaker, Rep. Robert F. Womba for constructing a modern building for teachers of the C.G. Woah Elementary and Junior High School.
Report by Gerald C. Koinyeneh, [email protected]
At an elaborate dedicatory ceremony in Belemue on Saturday, May 18, the residents, through their chiefs and elders noted that Representative Womba’s gesture demonstrates his love for his people and continual commitment and desire to improve their livelihoods.
Speaking at the event, Rep. Womba stated that the initiative is geared towards augmenting the effort of the Liberian Government in attracting qualified teachers to rural Liberia and affording the young people of the area the opportunity to get quality education.
He called on the government of Liberia to do all it can in its power to recruit qualified teachers to occupy the facility.
He noted that the construction project cost about US$21,000 including the furniture and other electrical and electronic appliances.
“I am dedicated to empower the young people of this district because they are the future. They deserve the right to quality education,” he noted.
“Not everyone has the opportunity to send their child to Gbarnga for school (the county Capitol) and often there are no motivation to attract qualified teachers to the rural areas. That’s why I decided to work with the citizens to build this structure.”
The event in Belemue was attended by cross section of county officials including Rep. Prince Moye (Bong County District #2), Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Senator Jim Tornalah of Margibi County.
Deputy Speaker Moye thanked Rep Womba for the ‘numerous’ development projects in an incredible short period; despite not receiving his Legislative Support project.
He reaffirmed his commitment to collaborating with Rep. Womba to continue their numerous development initiatives across the district and called on residents of the area to embrace their lawmaker and take ownership of the facilities.
“Politic have engulfed our unity so much that even our children’s health and education have been politicized. We want to thank you ever so much for the many things you continue to do. To use your salary to undertake these development projects in the absence of your Legislative Support Project fund speaks volume of your commitments to developing your community” Deputy Speaker Moye noted.
The Deputy Speaker then made a cash donation of L$100,000 in fulfillment of his promise to the youth of Belemue and pledged L$150,000 as his contribution to the fund raiser initiated by Rep. Womba to provide furniture and other basic materials for the C.G. Woah Elementary and Junior High School.
Serving as Chief Launcher of the fundraiser, Senator Jim Tonolah of Margibi County made a cash presentation of US$100 and pledged L$50,000.
The Regional Education Officer of Region Two- covering Nimba, Lofa and Grand Bassa Counties, George S. Wuo, on behalf of the Ministry of Education thanked Rep. Womba for the facility and pledged the ministry’s commitments to working with him and other stakeholders of the county to boost the education sector.
Rep. Womba was elected in a hotly contested election in 2017, but was certificated four months after the 54th Legislature resumed in 2018 due to a prolonged election dispute case that ended at the Supreme Court.
Since his ascendancy, Rep. Womba, in addition to the current project, has embarked on several developmental initiatives for his constituents including the construction of bridges, town halls, youth centers, guest houses and renovation of schools.