MONROVIA – The Bong County Legislative Caucus has raised an alarm over a clandestine move made by China Union to renegotiate the payment of the county’s portion of its Social Development Fund (SDF) with the Government of Liberia (GOL), through the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, without the involvement of the locals.
By Obediah Johnson
According to the caucus Chairman Senator Prince Moye, the move being made by the company is intended to deprive citizens of Bong their fair share of the SDF enshrined in the concession agreement the company signed with the government.
Senator Moye observed that the company has failed to sit with lawmakers to disclose the problems they are encountering to support the renegotiation of its concession.
He made these assertions at a news conference held at the Capitol Building in Monrovia on Thursday, February 15, 2024.
Senator Moye added that China Union continues to hold unto the concession agreement signed with the government, while at the same time, renegotiating for the reduction in the amount being paid as SDF to the affected counties.
“For the past years, China Union has taken the back door in negotiating the Social Development Fund (SDF). The concession is a law and whatever negotiation China Union has made with the Finance Ministry to cut down the social contribution to Bong County; it will be looked at and be addressed adequately so that the county can get her fair share of what China Union supposed to pay to the three affected counties.”
He maintained that though the county’s caucus does not have the authority to unilateral waive any funds to a concessionaire without the involvement of the entire Legislature, China Union, as the biggest concession company operating in Liberia, claims that it has not been operating at a full scale has no backing.
Senator Moye added: “You went to Finance Ministry to negotiate but you are (still) holding on to our mine when there is no war fighting here. We could go out and find different company to come and operate it, but you are still holding it. You went to Finance and said I will pay US$3M. We think this is not fair to the three counties. So, Bong County has not received almost US$4M on account of those arrangements. And we are going to be looking at the records and pick up from there to ensure that Margibi and Montserrado can join us and we take up issues with China Union.”
Holistic approach
Senator Moye pointed out that the caucus will holistically standup with lawmakers hosting concession companies in their respective districts to ensure that “the dividends of those concessions are paid and the people can feel it base on their social development activities.”
“As we speak, there are lingering issues with China Union and the caucus is monitoring the result of the action.”
He said lawmakers hailing from the county will ensure that China Union, MNG Gold and other companies operating in Bong live up to its Mineral Development Agreements (MDAs) signed with the Liberian government.
According to him, the operations of these companies will not be “business as usual.”
Senator Moye pointed out that the caucus is also concerned about the “slow pace” of the operations of MNG Gold mining company.
He said the current situation now stresses the need for the revision and amendment of the company’s concession agreement to compel it to live up to its Corporate Social Responsibility.
He vowed that the caucus will also remain engage with Arcelor Mittal, which has its railways passing through and an operating site in Bong.
Senator Moye assured that the caucus will exert efforts to ensure that the county is represented on the Board of Arcelor Mittal, noting that, “this is a right we have as a county, but it has been taken away from us for couple of years now.”
This, he said, will guarantee the payment of fair benefits to the county.
He assured that Representatives and Senators of Bong will not be serving as “mouthpiece” or found on the payrolls of any concession companies in the county
He stated that concessionaires and the caucus will work collectively for the benefit of the citizens.
Health
Senator Moye said as one of the biggest counties in Liberia, Bong continues to experience low support to health institutions in the county.
He stated that the caucus remains obligated to help the local authorities’ and government to source funding through adequate budgetary appropriations to medical centers in the county, including the Phebe and C. B. Dunbar Maternal Hospitals.
Senator Moye maintained that Phebe must be given proper support to be able to perform as a referral hospital in central Liberia.
He said health workers in the county have already initiated a plan to elevate the status of the C. B. Dunbar Hospital to a comprehensive medical center
“We as members of the caucus, we are in full support of that and because we are in full support, the budgetary appropriation of US$500,000 was made available in the 2023 budget to address the expansion project.”
Senator Moye disclosed that as a legislative group that will engage in transparency and accountability, the caucus will ensure the audit of the US$500,000 and money allocated towards the expansion project of the only government hospital operating in the county.
He said members of the caucus will work with the Ministry of Health, through the County Health Office for the provision of requisite support in a bid to restore and provide medical supplies and materials to clinics and hospitals in the county.
He noted that currently, some of the clinics are not functional due to lack of dwelling places for healthcare workers, electricity, among others.
Education
Senator Moye used the occasion to commend partners for supporting education in the county.
He made specific reference to the World Bank US$3M ARISE project which is ensuring the construction of a modern school in the county.
He said the caucus will work with the Ministry of Education to ensure that public high schools in the county have professional teachers.
“We also want to look into the Bong Technical College. It was decertificated by the Nursing Authority of our country and we want to find out why that decertification was done because, the college has received adequate funding through representation that we made at the national level in the tone of US$900,000 in the 2023 budget.”
Senator Moye added that it is quite frustrating for the college to be unable to provide a bus for its nursing program.
He said an anti-graft audit must be established to determine the usage of the US$900,000 allotted to the college.
He disclosed that lawmakers will make sure that schools operating across the county receive the necessary educational supplies.
Senator Moye pointed out that with the collaboration of the new local county authorities, the Madam Suacoco Scholarship will be reintroduced with a new thorough operating procedure to afford being shut down due to exploitation as was done in the past.
“The scholarship was exploited and sold down Water Side and Randall Street which led to the county incurring a little over US$3M to almost all of the universities and colleges in Central and greater Monrovia.”
He observed that the closure of the Madam Suacoco Scholarship, which was supported from the coffers of the county, put additional pressure on lawmakers to pay the fees of some of their constituents.
Speaking further, Senator Moye claimed that the county’s presidential palace has been a dwelling place for goats and other animals.
He said the caucus will help provide financial support from the SDF to the local authorities to renovate the palace, along with the superintendent compound.
He noted that follow-ups will be made on roads given to various contractors by the Ministry of Public Works from the National Road Fund (NRF) to guarantee its quality and completion.
Senator Moye further pledged that the SDF will also be used to address deplorable road conditions in the county.
“Bong County stagnated in terms of development programs. We have taken a decision that going forward, the caucus will take a decisive step in ensuring that the moratorium place on the account is lifted and we can proceed with development in the county.”
He, however, vowed to reconcile the caucus as part of efforts to ensure cohesiveness for the benefit of the citizens.
