Bong County – Marvin Cole, the representative for Bong County’s Electoral District 3, has accused an unknown assailant of deliberately setting fire to his cocoa farm in Gbondio, Bong County on Thursday.
By Selma Lomax, [email protected]
The incident has sparked widespread shock and outrage, further complicating Cole’s already precarious position.
Following the fire, Cole took to Facebook, expressing both frustration and resilience. “Unto you, oh Lord, I give you praises for strength to go through these difficult times of my life! This is how my 30K cocoa farm was set on fire by criminals today!” he wrote.
The blaze destroyed a significant portion of his farm, which has long been a vital source of income for Cole and his family. Although no suspects have been named, local authorities suspect the fire was deliberately set, raising concerns about safety and the escalating political tensions in the county.
The destruction of Cole’s cocoa farm has left local residents grappling with the economic fallout. The farm’s loss is not only a blow to Cole but also to the broader community, many of whom depend on agriculture for their livelihoods.
This attack on Cole’s property comes during a tumultuous period in his political career. Two months prior, Cole was suspended from the House of Representatives following a controversial incident in October 2024.
During that time, he locked the doors of the House chamber, preventing critical legislative business from proceeding. This disruption led to his suspension for 30 session days and the removal of his legislative immunity.
On the same day, Cole was seen leading a group of men into the Joint Chamber, which resulted in civil disorder. As a consequence, Cole has effectively been sidelined in his role as a lawmaker, with his suspension lasting until April 2025.
This suspension has prevented him from carrying out his duties and advocating for his constituents.
In a further blow to his political standing, Cole was removed from his position on the influential Rules, Order, and Administration Committee of the House of Representatives. His replacement, James Kolleh, a fellow Bong County lawmaker from Electoral District 2, now holds the position, signaling a shift in the county’s political landscape.
In addition to the suspension, Cole is now facing serious allegations of embezzling development funds intended for the residents of Gbarmu Town.
The accusations emerged after Superintendent Loleyah Hawa Norris presented evidence suggesting Cole was involved in the diversion of funds from a 2011 agreement with Hurine Mining Company.
The controversy began when residents of Gbarmu and surrounding communities staged protests, accusing Hurine Mining of failing to fulfill promises outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2011.
Under the terms of the MoU, Hurine Mining pledged to contribute $4,000 every five months to the affected communities. However, despite the company’s assertions that it has met its obligations, Cole, alongside former District Commissioner Washington Bonnah, has been accused of mismanaging these funds.
The situation escalated when protesters set fire to a wooden bridge, cutting off access between Gbarmu and the mining site. The Liberia National Police detained several demonstrators in response.
In the midst of the unrest, Superintendent Norris convened a meeting with local authorities, including Cole, to address the allegations.
During the discussions, Cole repeatedly claimed ignorance of the MoU between the mining company and the local community. However, Norris presented a copy of the MoU bearing Cole’s signature, which directly contradicted his claims.
“Since the signing of the MoU, we have not seen any benefits,” said Otto Dunbar, a community representative. “They opened an account in the name of the former commissioner, and all our funds went there. We can’t blame the company; we blame our lawmaker because he agreed to the account being opened.”
For his part, Cole denied any wrongdoing, asserting that he had requested a copy of the MoU from both the mining company and local authorities on numerous occasions but had not received one. However, the production of the signed MoU has only deepened the controversy and further damaged his credibility.
As investigations into both the arson attack and the embezzlement allegations unfold, Cole’s political future appears increasingly uncertain.
The ongoing scandals have left local residents and political observers questioning the implications for Bong County’s leadership, with many wondering if Cole will be able to recover from these mounting challenges.
