SANNIQUELLIE, Nimba County – Following her induction ceremony on Monday, May 13, 2024, at the administrative building in the county capital city, Superintendent Kou Meapeh Gono openly announced her intention to initiate an audit as she takes over the county.
She stated that she aims to hold people accountable for large sums of dollars that were intended for citizens but have allegedly been misappropriated without any visible outcomes.
Further elaborating, Superintendent Kou Meapeh Gono disclosed plans to work with citizens to improve their lives and collaborate with other development partners to undertake more development activities across the county.
Our Nimba County correspondent reported that Superintendent Kou Meapeh Gono’s statement came after a warning from the Minister of Internal Affairs, Francis Sikili Nyumalin, who urged her leadership not to engage in any form of corruption.
According to Minister Francis Sikili Nyumalin, the administration of President Joseph Boakai is against corruption, and as such, any of his followers should not engage in such practices.
Our Nimba County correspondent, who spoke with citizens in the county, expressed disappointment that the funding provided from the County Social Development Fund has yet to make an impact on the lives of the citizens.
Concerned citizens claimed that although ArcelorMittal operations in the county provide $1.5 million USD annually, citizens are yet to feel the intended developmental impact.
Front Page Africa has gathered reports that several local authorities, including past and current lawmakers from the county, have been linked to the alleged misuse of the County Social Development Fund.
Just a month ago, $14,000 USD went missing from the County Sports Committee, headed by Diamond Yormie, who has refused to comment on the outcome of such funding. Additionally, the former Fiscal Affairs Superintendent, Saye E.L. Musa, announced the disappearance of $2.37 million USD from the County Account. Of this, $2 million USD was allocated to the County Project Management Committee (PMC) for the repair and rehabilitation of farms-to-market roads in the county, but the work was never carried out.
Several Nimbaians who spoke with our correspondent welcomed the statement from the County Superintendent, who announced that her administration would conduct an audit to account for the large sums of funding that have reportedly gone missing without any accountability in the county.
Addressing citizens, the newly inducted Superintendent Kou Meapeh Gono disclosed plans to be involved in activities that will promote women and girls’ empowerment, the rehabilitation of various farms-to-market roads in the county, and efforts to unite the citizens, among other initiatives.
Our Nimba County correspondent, who covered the ceremony, reported that two of the county’s Senators, Prince Johnson and Nya D Twayen Jr., along with Representatives Nehker Gaye of District Number 3, Ernest Manseah of District Number 4, and the lawmaker for District Number 6 were absent from the ceremony.
There have been no reasons given for their absence, but earlier, Senator Prince Johnson expressed his displeasure at President Joseph Boakai’s appointment of Kou Meapeh Gono as superintendent.
He disclosed that the caucus members were not in support of Madam Kou Meapeh Gono.