Ganta, Nimba County – Residents of Nimba County, Liberia’s mineral-rich heartland and one of the nation’s largest counties, are growing increasingly frustrated with Nimba County Superintendent Kou Meapeah Gono’s failure to release a highly anticipated audit report.
By D. Franklin Doloquee
Promised during her induction ceremony in September 2024, the report was touted as a cornerstone of transparency for county finances, yet months later, it remains under wraps, fueling accusations of foot-dragging and mismanagement.
Nimbaians, many of whom endure pothole-riddled roads, understaffed clinics and crumbling schools despite the county’s vast mining wealth, have repeatedly sought answers.
Local activist Ericson Dahn, speaking to reporters in bustling Ganta, Nimba’s commercial hub, expressed the collective dismay:
“We are not happy. Superintendent Gono publicized this report and boasted about it multiple times. She must make it accessible to citizens as she promised during her induction.
How can we hold leaders accountable without the facts,’’ Dahn stated. His sentiments echoed those of Jackson Myers, a local trader, who added, “We’ve requested meetings and engagement, but there are no clear reasons or timelines.’’
This isn’t just about a document, it’s about trust in our leaders. “Lingering Questions Over Mining Funds and Social Development Fund. The controversy strikes at the core of Nimba’s economic frustrations.
Since 2006, the county has received nearly US$30 million in social development funds from ArcelorMittal- Liberia, the iron ore giant operating the massive Mount Tokadeh Mines.
These payments, mandated under the company’s mineral development agreement, were intended to finance infrastructure, healthcare, education, and poverty alleviation in communities displaced or affected by mining activities.
Yet, residents paint a grim picture of unfulfilled promises. In remote villages like Yarmein and Karnplay, Garr Clean and Others, families still trek miles on muddy tracks for basic medical care, while schoolchildren study under leaky roofs.
Radio call-in shows in Ganta have brimmed with outrage, with callers accusing past and current administrations from superintendents appointed across multiple governments of allegedly siphoning funds for personal gain.
“The money comes in, leaders get rich, and we get nothing,” one anonymous caller lamented on a recent broadcast. Roads to our farms are impassable in the rainy season, hospitals lack medicines, and our kids drop out because there’s no support.’’
Scrutiny on Superintendent’s Expenses and Projects Adding fuel to the fire are reports of Superintendent Gono employing three private drivers, each allegedly paid US$500 monthly – totaling US$1,500 from county coffers. Nimba County Senator Samuel Kogar, a vocal critic, raised the alarm in a recent public statement. “This is a misuse of social development funds meant for the people,” Nimba County Senator Samuel Kogar said.
“She’s diverting money to personal luxuries like multiple drivers, while funding unauthorized projects such as the new immigration checkpoint and renovations of government properties. Where is the oversight.’’
Senator Kogar has called for an independent probe, arguing that such expenditures bypass legislative approval from the county’s Caucus a group of lawmakers overseeing local governance.
Nimba County District 7 Representative Musa Hassan Bility echoed these concerns during a press interaction in Ganta last week. “Caucus members have no access to any reports prepared by the superintendent’s office,” Bility stated. “This lack of transparency undermines our democratic processes and leaves us blind to potential abuses,’’ Bility asserted.
Front Page Africa reached out to Superintendent Gono multiple times for comments on the delayed audit, driver payments and project funding. She has not responded to inquiries as of publication.
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