GBARNGA – In Bong County, frustration is rapidly morphing into outrage as residents raise their voices against the perceived wasteful spending of county officials.
By Selma Lomax [email protected]
The tipping point for this growing discontent came during the recent dedication of the refurbished Bong County Superintendent’s Compound. At the ceremony, County Development Officer Sedekie Kromah revealed plans for a $300,000, three-story administrative complex to house key county officials, including the County Administrative Officer, County Development Officer, and Finance Officer, along with their families.
This announcement ignited a firestorm of criticism among local residents, who feel the priorities of their leaders are misplaced.
Initially, the project had been promoted as a guest house for high-profile visitors, but Kromah’s statements clarified it would instead cater to the personal comforts of county officials.
For many residents, the idea of constructing such an expensive building at a time when the county’s social development budget is stretched thin feels like an insult. Community needs such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure have long been unmet, and the promise of a luxury complex has only fueled frustration.
“The people of Bong County have been waiting for essential services like better schools, roads, and healthcare — and yet we are told our money is being spent on building houses for people who already have homes,” said Jefferson Massah, a local resident, expressing his dissatisfaction on social media.
Massah’s sentiments were echoed by others, including Charles King, who criticized the decision amid widespread unemployment and a failing healthcare system. “Everyone wants to implement projects that allow for quick personal gains,” King said, adding that these extravagant projects lacked long-term, positive impacts on the community.
This outrage extends beyond the administrative complex.
Education, once a priority, has been largely neglected, with over ten unfinished development projects left by the previous administration. Residents are deeply concerned about the conditions of local schools, including Dorothy Cooper and Lelekpayea Public Schools, where children are forced to sit on rocks or stand in class due to a lack of furniture.
“The conditions in our schools are disgraceful,” said a teacher at Lelekpayea Public School. “The government should be focused on fixing things like this, not building luxury homes for themselves.”
In addition to the complex, Bong County residents are frustrated by the purchase of three vehicles for county officials at a cost of $75,000, particularly since the Ministry of Internal Affairs is responsible for providing such vehicles.
This, combined with the extravagant spending on the administrative complex, has prompted residents to demand more accountability.
“It’s not just the $300,000 complex — it’s the vehicles, the extravagant spending, and the lack of attention to our schools and roads,” said Adam Jones, a Gbarnga resident. “It feels like our leaders are living in a bubble, disconnected from the reality we face every day.”
Bong County’s infrastructure, especially its road system, is in dire need of attention. Many communities remain inaccessible during the rainy season due to impassable roads, and local leaders are being urged to prioritize these basic needs over luxury projects.
With many residents now calling for greater transparency in the allocation of public funds, there is a growing demand for a shift in priorities.
People want their leaders to focus on projects that benefit the community as a whole, rather than extravagant, self-serving developments.
“We need our leaders to focus on real improvements, things that will benefit all of us,” said Jones. “Instead, we’re seeing our money go to things that don’t address our needs.”
As frustration continues to mount, residents are increasingly questioning the leadership in Bong County, which was once seen as a region of great promise.
