GBARNGA – Dozens of young members of the ruling Unity Party in Bong County took to the streets on Monday, calling for the immediate removal of Superintendent Loleyah Hawa Norris.
By Selma Lomax [email protected]
The youth accused her of gross misconduct, political betrayal, and deliberate empowerment of opposition figures in the county, which they say is threatening the Unity Party’s control and cohesion in one of its key political strongholds.
The protest, held at the Gbarnga Administration Building, was organized by the Unity Party Youth Wing in Bong County and culminated in the delivery of a petition to senior party representatives for onward submission to President Joseph Boakai.
According to the protestors, Superintendent Norris has consistently marginalized loyal members of the Unity Party and instead aligned herself with figures from rival parties, including the Liberty Party, the Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR), and the Rainbow Alliance.
Speaking on behalf of the protesting youth, George Flomo, a prominent UP youth activist, alleged that since her appointment in 2024, Norris has failed to show loyalty to those who helped secure her position. He accused her of rewarding political opponents with public contracts, jobs, and preferential access to county resources, thereby undermining the efforts of UP campaigners and foot soldiers.
“Those of us who stood in the sun, rain, and mud to campaign for the Rescue Mission are now being treated like strangers,” Flomo said. “Superintendent Norris has surrounded herself with individuals who openly opposed our party during the elections, and she continues to elevate them while neglecting Unity Party members. That is unacceptable.”
The protestors also raised serious concerns over alleged financial mismanagement under Superintendent Norris’s leadership. They claimed that key development initiatives funded by the County Social Development Fund (CSDF) — including an agriculture project and a county-wide beauty pageant — have failed due to poor planning and alleged corruption.
“There is zero transparency,” Flomo added. “Funds meant for development are being misused. Projects are announced, but they don’t get completed. We have reason to believe contracts are being awarded to unqualified businesses connected to her political allies, many of whom are not even affiliated with the Unity Party.”
The youth also accused Superintendent Norris of falsifying political endorsements to gain personal favors. They claimed she misrepresented the political alignment of a local pastor in order to secure a vehicle donation from President Boakai under false pretense.
The protestors called on President Boakai to act swiftly to protect the integrity of the party and restore public confidence in the county’s leadership. They warned that failure to remove Superintendent Norris would widen the divide within the party and weaken its base ahead of the 2029 midterm elections.
“We supported the President because we believed in his vision and trusted the Unity Party to empower its own people,” Flomo emphasized. “But if this situation is allowed to continue, it will demoralize the base and give strength to the opposition.”
The petition was received by William B.S. Kollie, National Traditional Liaison Officer for the Rescue Mission, and Viola Nyamah Cooper, Regional Gender Coordinator for Bong, Lofa, and Nimba Counties. Both officials pledged to forward the concerns directly to the President and the national leadership of the party.
“I assure you, your voices will be heard at the highest level,” said Kollie. “The party leadership is concerned about unity and performance in all counties, and Bong is a priority.”
Cooper echoed the youth’s frustrations, noting that party loyalty must be protected. “We hear you loud and clear. We will take this to Monrovia and ensure that action is taken,” she said.
Bong County has historically been a swing region, and the Unity Party’s current hold on it is seen as critical to President Boakai’s long-term political agenda.
Some local Unity Party elders, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the leadership has received multiple complaints about Superintendent Norris’s alleged alliance with opposition figures.
“It’s not just the youth who are angry,” one party elder said. “There’s a real problem, and the President needs to step in before it gets worse.”
Repeated efforts to obtain a comment from Superintendent Hawa Norris were unsuccessful. As of press time, she had not issued a public statement in response to the allegations, and calls to her official line went unanswered.