MONROVIA – The celebration of President Joseph Boakai’s inauguration in all 73 districts across the country could not go on as the President wished. FrontPageAfrica has gathered that the whopping US$365,000 provided by the President for the districts did not reach them. According to a source, the ruling Unity Party’s officials are to blame.
By Lennart Dodoo and Franklin Doloquee
After the elections, President Boakai was very particular about all 73 districts in the country partaking in the inaugural celebrations within their districts. He therefore promised each district US$5,000 and repeated this promise in almost every meeting leading up to the inauguration, including a meeting held with members of the House of Representatives at his residence.
FrontPageAfrica gathered that the President fulfilled his promise and provided the US$365,000 to the Unity Party for disbursement to each electoral district.
Credible information from district coordinators is that each district received US$4,000 instead of the US$5,000 intended for them. Sources from the counties confirmed that party Chairman Rev. Luther Tarpeh instructed the deduction of US$1,000 each from the US$5,000 allotted for the districts. Information from the districts suggest that the county chairs also deducted further amount from the US$4,000.
Nimba County Chairman, D. Nelson Bearngar, confirmed on OK fm afternoon show with Julius Jeh that the National Chairman gave the county chairpersons to take US$1,000 from each district for their own use.
Rev. Tarpeh did not respond to FrontPageAfrica’s request for comments.
However, the UP’s national treasurer, Mr. Edmond Ford, told FrontPageAfrica that all the party’s county chairpersons signed for US$5,000 per district as per the number of districts in their counties for onward distribution to the various counties.
FPA Nimba County correspondent also reported that Nimbaians from the 19 administrative districts in the nine electoral districts in Nimba County are now demanding accountability from the local County authorities of the ruling Unity Party and the MDR party of Vice President Jeremiah Koung.
Their demand for accountability came as a result of the use of the $45,000 provided by President Boakai to the people of Nimba County to enable them to carry out their share of the celebration on Monday in the 19 administrative districts in the County.
According to reports, the residents of Nimba are accusing the County chairman of the ruling Unity Party, Nelson Bearngar, of allegedly taking US$$9,000 from the $45,000 (US$1,000 from each district’s US$5,000) for himself.
The balance of US$36,000 was also reduced further by the local district officials for personal use.
Officials in some of the districts told our correspondent that they received US$30 for the celebration while they accuse the county leaderships of both Unity Party and MDR of embezzling the money.
Mohammed Keita, resident of the Guinea Road zone number 3, said President Joseph Boakai needs to use this situation as his first step in combating corruption in his administration.
Eric Jackson, resident of Karnplay, district 3, referred to the act as a bad beginning that President Joseph Boakai needs to take a step to stop.