Gbarnga, Bong County – Recent report by Bong County’s Finance Officer Silas Tokpah tracking expenditures of the county’s social development funds has revealed that Superintendent Hawa Norris spent a whopping $5,000 for her personal trip to the United States of America in July.
By Selma Lomax, [email protected]
Superintendent Norris, upon assuming office in May, did 100-day deliverables plan and passed a resolution of $320,000 from the Social Development Fund against the Public Financial Management (PFM) Law.
The PFM Law states that a spending entity like the county’s Social Development Fund must submit an annual projection for approval by the County Council, which dictates that the county’s budget plan shall fit in from May 15 (the day Supt. Norris took over) to December 31) with the appropriation of a disclosure of what was inherited in the county’s account.
As at the time of the report, there are still doubts as to the full disclosure of what Superintendent Norris administration inherited from ex-superintendent Walker, amid conflicting accounts provided by Mr. Tokpah and the County Council chair, Aaron Sackie Fenlah.
FrontPageAfrica gathered that even as County Council chair, Mr. Sackie had no idea of how much dollars were inherited by Superintendent Norris administration, but reportedly went ahead to sign a resolution against the PFM Law.
Mr. Sackie was reportedly queried by his fellow Civil Society members to disclose the 100-day budget resolution and he reportedly declined until Mr. Siakor disclosed it to the public via local radio stations one month after the implementation of projects, a decision Civil Society Organizations in the county termed as deceit and undermines the gains made in the advocacy of the Local Government Act (LGA), with Bong County Civil Society Organizations being the champion because its advocacy of the LFA.
‘5,000 allotment to Supt. Norris was crucial’
Appearing as guest on a local radio station, Super Bongese, recently, Mr. Tokpah said the county deemed it expedient to facilitate the superintendent’s trip to the United States of America because it was “urgent” and would bring benefit to the county in the near future.
Superintendent Norris is yet to disclose what Bong County stands to benefit from her trip since her return from the United States of America July.
Superintendent Norris’ lavish spending from the county’s account is coming at a time when Bong County is languishing under the debilitating effects of deplorable roads and unfinished projects left behind by her predecessor, Esther Walker.
Will Pres. Boakai follow Ellen’s example?
In 2010, former Liberian president Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf suspended former Bong County superintendent Ranney Jackson for using $10,000 from the county’s account to fund his trip to the United States of America.
Though Mr. Jackson defended that his decision later restituted the money two months after, ex-President Sirleaf at a public forum in Gbarnga said she suspended the former superintendent because he acted unilaterally.
It is left to be seen whether President Joseph Boakai will take action against the superintendent for her fiscal indiscipline as was done by ex-president Johnson-Sirleaf to Mr. Jackson.
Bong residents slam Supt. Norris
Residents of the county have launched a scathing attack on Superintendent Norris, accusing her of excessive spending habits in the face of a crippling economic crisis.
Human Rights activist, Jesse Cole, questioned how the superintendent could justify using $5,000 from the Social Development Fund of the county when there are still unfinished projects in the county.
He accused the superintendent of provoking residents of the county with her self-indulgent behavior, warning that a day of reckoning will come if she continues to mismanage development funds of the county.
He said, “Is this the Rescue government they preached during the campaign? This is doing business as usual.
“Public officials like the superintendent should set the example of fiscal prudence, the sensibilities of our citizens are daily assaulted with the self-indulgent lives of public officials – many of whom did not deserve to be appointed.
Lavished spending spree
In recent weeks, the county administration allotted payments in the tone of $2,000 for superintendent Norris’ private residence, including the purchase of air-conditioners.
Also, FPA has been informed of a breach of the County Social Development in a payroll scheme, in which Superintendent Norris is reportedly paying support staff of her office, including her newly-appointed administrative staff, including Gerald Dolo the sum of $450.00.
Superintendent Norris, FrontPageAfrica gathered, without any competitive bidding process, has sourced money from the County Social Development Fund to award a contract to fence the administration building to her pastor, James Paye and Mr. Joseph Cammue, who is linked to Felicia Koyoun, a member of her office and a confidant, despite her earlier publication that she was raising funds from her friends from the diaspora to implement the project.
FrontPageAfrica reached out to the office of Superintendent Norris through her media consultant to respond to these allegations, and he responded: “My boss will respond to you when the appropriate time comes.”