MONROVIA – Nimba County Superintendent-designate Kou Meapeh Gono has underscored the need for local county authorities to adequately utilize monies allocated as County and Social Development Funds to address the huge challenges citizens are faced with in their respective counties.
By Obediah Johnson
According to her, the proper expenditure of County and Social Development Funds will help provide basic social and other services to the locals, especially those in the leeward areas.
Madam Gono said if confirmed, heads of the various counties should ensure that monies concession companies paid as social benefits are not used to benefit a selective few, but the citizenry.
She made the call when she appeared for confirmation before the Senate Committee on Internal Affairs at the Capitol Building in Monrovia on Monday, April 8.
She further called for improved budgetary allotment and increment in the County and Social Development Funds to meet the basic needs of the citizens.
“We do have issues and how do we address these issues? Upon getting there, there may not be budgetary allotment right now. But the first thing is that, we need to have conversation with our people, especially stakeholders letting them know our plans that would be in line with the President’s vision for this country.”
“We are going to ensure that we push for higher budgetary allotment. For some of us benefitting from the Social Development Fund (SDF), we should ensure that most of that funding comes to our counties. Our people have to benefit through the proper utilization of that funding.”
Madam Gono named education and the provision of job opportunities to citizens as main issues that need to be tackled.
She observed that despite the challenges, Nimba is economically improving as evidenced by the involvement of many citizens of the county into commercial activities.
However, she added, that are still others lingering behind due to the “uneven” distribution of funding allocated to improve their living standards.
She vowed to ensure that citizens reap their fair share or benefits from concession companies operating in the county.
Madam Gono encouraged lawmakers to ensure that concessions proffered by the executive branch are thoroughly scrutinize to reflect and prioritize the interest of Liberians
“We are looking to making sure that though there are concession companies in the county as compare to other areas, how much of that is triggering down to our people? We are going to be working with our legislative caucus and all of you (Senators) that when these concessions come for you to make sure that the interest of our people are capture there.”
In an interview with legislative Reporters shortly after the hearing, Madam Gono pointed out that she would hold robust stakeholder engagements with the locals to promote reconciliation in Nimba when confirmed by the Senate.
“Our people are progressive and to a larger extent they are very much together though there are some issues. We are going to form a united front to be able to move our county forward.”
She further vowed to request for the conduct of an audit to promote accountability and transparency.
She pledged not to engage into political activities which run contrary to the National Code of Conduct by using her office or public money to promote a particular candidate, especially during the peak of this campaign period of the by-election in Nimba.
Madam Gono said she would not compromise her neutrality or deprive others from using public assets.
The by-election was triggered following the ascendancy of Vice President Jeremiah Koung during the 2023 general and presidential elections.