Gbarnga — The Lead Human Rights Defender of DELTA Human Rights Foundation, Jesse Cole, has reviewed and proposed amendments to key sections of the 2025 draft budget, prepared by Superintendent Hawa Norris.
By Rancy Clarke, Contributing Writer
Appearing on a local radio station in the county at the weekend, Mr. Cole urged the county council to consider the revisions rather than the proposed budget.
The proposed budget submitted to the council by the superintendent is in the tone of US $1, 488,669.07.
Mr. Cole said a significant portion of the budget is allocated to the county administration, while key sectors receive minimum funding. He argued that the budget was supposed to reflect the needs of the people instead of only the county administration.
“The draft budget is not inclusive. It is more administrative than a people-center. The budget must benefit the people and not only the county administration.”
In the budget, Superintendent Norris apportioned 100,000 USD for the purchase of four vehicles for herself, the county administrative officer, county finance officer and the county development officer.
Additionally, USD$75,000 was allotted for fuel and maintenance of machinery, $30,000 for furniture for the superintendent compound, $300,000 for renovation of the Administration complex, $40, 000 for the continuation of the administration building’s fencing and $100, 000 for the Bong Sports Steering Committee. The Delta boss stated that this demonstrates that the county administration was given a significant amount of the budget.
On the other hand, health sectors and youth institutions in the county were apportioned minimum funding of the budget.
However, Mr. Cole criticized the purchase of the four vehicles, stating that one would be sufficient. The vocal human rights activist reshuffled the draft budget, drastically cutting allocations to the county administration. If this budget is approved, $227, 269.07 we remain.
In his five-page amended budget totaling $1,261,400.00, he allocated $15, 000 for furniture for the superintendent compound and 84,000 for fuel and maintenance for the machine instead of the previous $30,000 and $75,000 respectively.
He emphasized that no allotments should be made for the renovation of the superintendent complex and the continuation of the fencing of the administration building until clarity is provided regarding the first allocation in the Superintendent hundred-day deliverables plan.
US $150, 000 was allocated for student loan and full-time scholarship fund for Bong County Students while key institutions including community radio stations, hospitals, youth groups and students’ organizations received increased funding in the amended budget.
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