Harbel – Board Members of Harbel College in Lower Margibi County were on Thursday, August 30, chased out of the campus premises by aggrieved students. Before they had fled, the board members had been held hostage for over three hours.
Report by Willie N. Tokpah, [email protected]
They were chased off the college’s campus by the aggrieved students when they had met to attend a board meeting.
The rioters are calling for a change in board members, who according to them, are doing nothing to improve the status of the institution.
“This do-nothing Board of Trustee does not care for the students. It is dysfunctional under its very slow-to act Chairman David Menyougai,” Jupor Gborkerquelle, spokesperson of the aggrieved students said.
“The Board of Trustee must be removed and restructured because he cannot manage the board.”
During Thursday’s protest, the students informed FrontPageAfrica that the Mr. Menyougai is allegedly instituting a ‘dysfunctional management’ at the college, which they further noted is stalling progress there.
Spokesman Gborkerquelle alleged that operational funding intended for the institution is being micromanaged due to lack of corporation among members.
As a result of this, the students charged that they are learning under appalling conditions.
He accused the board members of coming to meeting only when money is in the institution’s account for them to distribute it among themselves.
“It’s time this board goes; no more micromanaging. No more collecting sitting fees. The board has not done any meaningful project to help the college president and students,” he further charged.
According to him, delay in ongoing construction work at the college is due to ‘noncompliance posture’ being exhibited by the chairperson on finance of the board, Regina A. Benson.
With Madam Benson on the board, the students believe the college will continue to experience underdevelopment and financial problem.
“As we speak, classroom, library and administrative building that should have been ready by the end of August are not. Classes are not starting until October,” Gborkerquelle disclosed.
While they want the board changed, they singled out Fr. Gabriel Jubwe as the only board member who attends all programs and teaches the college.
They called on President George Manneh Weah and authority of Margibi County to change members of the board for smooth operation of the institution.
He stated that they are going to remain resolute in disrupting learning activities until the board is restructured.
Responding, board chairman Menyongai noted that while students are free to express their concerns, they (concerns) must not be based on “misinformation.”
Contrary to the students’ charge that each board member was taking US$20,000 per sitting fee, Menyongai stated that that amount is an annual fee.
“We are supposed to have board meeting three times every year. That amount you are talking about is fee for 12 persons for the entire year. I do not want you rely on misinformation,” he added.
He expressed dismay that some of the students’ points they raised are similar qualms that had been outlined by the college president, Dr. Syrulwa Somah. He surmised that the students are being pushed by Dr. Somah.
He further stated that the board is equally concerned about progress on the campus; adding: “Development is a gradual process.”
For her part, chairperson on finance, Madam Regina Benson, stated that she does all in her quest to ensure that appropriate financial system is put in place.
At the same time, Dr. Somah, the college president, has confirmed that there is poor relationship between his office and the board.
According to him, the disagreement stands from his refusal to mismanage funding intended for the college operations. He accused some board members of urging him to do so.
“They came the last time and brought US$300,000 and told me that the one to take US$100,000 for themselves. Since I refused, this has been a big crime that I have committed,” Dr. Somah disclosed.
“Madam Benson wanted to bring her own contractor to complete construction work at the college and I refused; since then she keeps finding all means to get me out and the students are observing what is ongoing here, especially construction works.”
He backed the students’ argument that the presence of Mr. Menyougai and Madam Benson on the board would continue to hold the institution undeveloped.