Gbarnga – Since January 2018 to January 2021, the government has disbursed US$ 1.8 million to Bong county through the Social Development Funds to fund 13 projects, but so far only one project has been completed – the renovation of the headquarters of the Group of 77 in Gbarnga.
The remaining 12 projects, according to Steve Mulbah, chairman of the county’s Project Management Committee, are on hold because the county doesn’t have the money to complete those projects.
“Right now the county doesn’t have money to complete the remaining 12 projects across the county,” Mulbah said, saying: “I am not optimistic whether those projects would be completed when the county gets money from government.”
During the last County Council Sitting in November 2018, delegates, through a resolution, proposed the 13 projects, including the Gbarnga Library project
in electoral district three, which was awarded to Fah Architecture Design and Construction Company, the Baryata Bridge Project in electoral district two awarded to the Sesay Brothers Construction Company, a bridge project in Gbarlorkpala, Kokoyah District, which the Project Management Committee paid US$ 20,000 to the construction firm last year.
The two contractors who reportedly won the two projects received US$50,000 each to start the jobs. They received the funds in September, 2020. As it stands, only a foundation has been erected for the library in Gbarnga, while the bridge in Baryata is yet to begin.
Residents at the November sitting also proposed US$ 12, 000 to construct four boreholes around Gbarnga, a project advanced by Senator Henrique Tokpa during the sitting. Mulbah confirmed to FrontPageAfrica that the amount has been paid but didn’t say which company the money was paid to carry on the construction of the pumps. Not a single pump has been constructed and the leadership of the county hasn’t said anything about the construction of the pumps.
Also, the renovation of the superintendent’s residence was also approved during the November sitting with an initial allotment of US$50,000 which would later be increased to US$149,000.
Construction work has been on hold since last year despite the initial payment of over US$ 75,000 to the contractor, according to Mulbah.
The leadership of the county is still coy on what has been done to the allotment of US$100,000, which was later reduced to US$ 50,000 for “tuition aid” for students hailing from the county at various universities across Liberia. As of yet the county hasn’t expended a dime for students to go to school.
All these are happening in the midst of claims and counter-claims between the Mulbah and the assistant superintendent for fiscal affairs Paul Sulunteh over corruption allegations in the management of the county’s funds.
Lawmakers and contractors relationship
Lawmakers of the county have established a strong bond with contactors in the county. Some lawmakers in the county are being excused of having share in companies the county award contract.
For example, the Sesay Brothers Company, owned by businessman Ansu Sesay, has done ninety percent of projects in electoral district two, where the former Deputy Speaker Prince Moye served nine years as representative before winning as senator of Bong in December 2020.
It’s been alleged that Moye has a share in the company.
Sesay and Moye’s relationship dates as far back as 2000. It’s reported that Sesay financed Moye campaign during the senatorial election in Bong. Also, it’s alleged he used portion of the US$50,000 to fund the senatorial bid of the former Deputy Speaker.
This is seemingly the same situation with District Three lawmaker Marvin Cole and the Fah Architecture Design and Construction company. The construction company has been reportedly funding most of the lawmaker’s political initiatives in the county.
Like Sesay and Moye, Cole, who served as campaign manager of former senator Henry Yallah during the December 8 Special Senatorial Election, reportedly diverted the money for the Library project to the loan scheme he introduced for residents of his district.