GOU, Bong County –A new dawn broke over Gou town in Menquelleh Clan, Sanoyea Administrative District, Bong County, as villagers, leaders, and development partners gathered to celebrate the launch of an 8-kilometer road construction project.  

By: Nukanah Kollie/ kollienukanah94@gmail.com

The joyous occasion saw citizens dancing, singing, and waving around the heavy equipment, while elders, dressed in traditional attire, proudly shared memories of the past. Excitement filled the air as the community marked the beginning of a long-awaited era of progress, connectivity, and opportunity.

Speaking to the jubilant crowd, Qaunuquanei Alfred Karmue, the key driver of the initiative, described the moment as historic. “A tree does not stand by itself,” he reminded them. “Every tree has roots, branches, leaves, and beans. All of that makes up one tree. All of us are part of this tree, and today, we give thanks to God for bringing us to this historic moment.”

Karmue noted that such development had deep roots. He acknowledged that the foundation for this achievement was laid years ago by pioneers who started the handmade road from Gbarnju-Sulonmah to Gou. “Without their vision and hard work, today would not have been possible,” he said.

The ceremony also celebrated the role of visionary leaders. Karmue paid tribute to his uncle, Eddison P.B. Flomo, who long championed road projects across Panta, Zota, Menquelleh Clan, and the wider Bong County.

He stressed the life-saving and transformative importance of roads: “How many women have died during childbirth because of poor road conditions? How many men have lost their lives because they couldn’t reach a hospital? How many children were denied their potential because access was too difficult? Today, September 11, 2025, marks a turning point for Gou and Bong County.”

The event drew the participation of General Town Chief and former Clan Chief James Sulonquayah, who emphasized that progress requires unity and collective leadership.

Karmue praised the construction team for continuing their work on bridges and other key structures even as the community celebrated. “The celebration is important, but development matters more,” he said. “We thank God for everyone who believed in this process and worked tirelessly to make it happen.”

He further reaffirmed the community’s pledge to support government priorities: “We are not just celebrating today. We are committing ourselves to supporting the government’s efforts to improve lives and expand infrastructure. Development is a shared responsibility, and we will do our part to ensure progress reaches every corner of Bong County.”

However, Karmue urged the community to see the road as just the beginning. “After road comes healthcare, education, and sustainable farming. Development is a continuum. This is only the start, and we must continue expanding opportunities to villages that still lack access.”

As the machinery worked in Gou, he highlighted the community’s role in making the project possible. From clearing land to accommodating the impact of construction on crops, residents demonstrated unity and resilience. “Without your efforts, none of this would have been possible. Today, we celebrate you,” he said.

Community voices also reflected the change. Ma-Kemah, a resident who arrived in Gou in 1970, explained: “Before this, traveling was very hard. If someone was critically sick, help could take too long. Now, things are different, you can travel, call, or bring family from afar without fear. We thank God for this blessing.” He added that the road restores dignity and opportunity after decades of isolation.

Beyond Gou, this project is part of a growing record of road reconstruction and rehabilitation spearheaded by Karmue and his team with strong community support. Other completed roads include the Foelah–Densha road, Payenata–Jorwah road, Garmue–Gbarnyasiaquelleh road, the 6-kilometer Gomu village road, Kpoe village road, and the Bellemue–Shankpowah road, each significantly improving mobility and development across Bong County.

Closing his remarks, Karmue urged continued collaboration: “We are here to stay. More is coming in Jesus’ name. Let us keep believing, innovating, and working together.”

The day’s celebration served as a reminder that development is not the duty of the government alone but a collective effort. The 8-kilometer road project stands as a symbol of unity, progress, and hope, not just for Gou, but for Liberia as a whole.

Traditional midwife Mary Yarkpawolo and Gorpu Mulbah of a nearby village also hailed the project as a milestone. They commended Karmue, his team, and partners for their vision, stressing that the road will bring lasting relief and opportunity for generations to come.

BAILA, Bong County – It’s been nearly a year since three out of the five hand pumps in the town became completely unusable. Residents informed the reporter that even the two remaining pumps are nearly ineffective.

By Susannah Reeds with FeJAL, Contributing Writer

The scarcity of safe drinking water has forced villagers to resort to fetching water from nearby creeks and wells for their daily chores and drinking, thereby exposing approximately two thousand residents in the area to serious health risks.

The town’s leaders, David B. Gbarnga and Gormah Sapoluseah, verified that in 2023 and earlier this year, several children experienced diarrhea due to the consumption of creek and well water. They reported that despite numerous attempts by the town to seek assistance from local or international organizations to replace their damaged hand pumps, no progress has been made.

“We are dying slowly,” Said Annie Seasay.  “There was a time when all the children were toileting with slippery liquid and some people were asking me to make them country medicine.”

Some days when the two hand pumps, fortunately, happen to pour out small water since it works “off and on”, residents say it results in a long waiting queue, especially during peak hours, causing inconvenience and potential conflicts among community members. School-going children at this point get late for school.

“The population is higher than the number of pumps here,” says David Gbanda.  “Sometimes when they draw it, it can run dry so the children can be looking for drinking water to use and to drink and they rather go to the creek, which is not safe.”

As the rainy season sets in, Baila residents are even worried as children continue to suffer from diarrhea and other water-borne diseases that if nothing is done replace their damage hand pumps the water situation may worsen.

“The only way we can get water is that we can go near the swamp and dig wells there and that’s the only way we can get water to drink. It is not save, but we don’t have any different water, so what will we do? Chairlady, Annie Seasay told this paper.

According to a UNICEF 2017 report, less than 10 percent of Liberians have access to safe drinking water and sanitation services, despite Liberia’s abundant water resources.

The report elaborates that nearly ninety percent of Liberians lack adequate access to safe drinking water. Baila exemplifies just one of numerous rural communities grappling with these challenges.

As the rainy season begins, health authorities caution that the situation may deteriorate further, as heavy rainfall can exacerbate water source contamination in the region, posing a life-threatening scenario.

“People are defecating at the top of the water while others are down strain drinking it. It is dangerous and not healthy and it poses much danger to the children.” Richard Diggs, a laboratory technician at a local clinic, the Wet Land Clinic in Bong County said.

The Wet Land Clinic is the only health facility in the area. However, the clinic is often challenged with insufficient medicine to address the health challenges in the area despite being helpful to the community during several health incidents.  

Briggs advises Bailai residents to ensure they boil water from creeks and wells extensively before consumption, prioritizing the safety and health of the community, particularly children.

“The health facility is not much equipped to that level where we have all of the drugs here,” Briggs said. He added, “At times we will have some drugs, but it cannot cater to all of the cases, so my advice to the community is to boil the water well before drinking it.”

According to a 2017 report by the Joint Monitoring Programme cited by WaterAid Liberia, sanitation conditions are dire, particularly in rural areas, where the majority of people lack proper toilets and latrines, resorting to open defecation instead. Approximately 42 percent of Liberia’s population practices open defecation, the report highlights.

This Diggs and other health experts say is dangerous to open water sources like Baila’s current safe drinking water challenges.  

Baila residents are anxiously seeking assistance for their water crisis, yet the source and timeline of aid remain uncertain. Consequently, they are appealing to the Government of Liberia to intervene and either build new hand pumps or refurbish existing ones, restoring access to safe and clean water for the community.

This story is produced by  FeJAL Mentorship Fellow, through the support of Internews USAID, Year III Media Activity Reporting  Program

Recently, much attention has been drawn to the debate of which folks are qualified, competent and experienced to occupy certain appointed positions in government, and which category of people are not. 

By Charles Kellen, Contributing Writer

Then, I eavesdrop a conversation in which it was asserted that Bong County strong woman and Chair lady of the Bong County Chapter of the Unity Party, Madam Martha C. T. Morris, was deemed not qualified and experienced for one of the deputy ministerial positions at the Ministry of Health. 

I further inquired and unearthed that this is an opinion being expressed and propagated by some folks in the circle of the high-level presidential kitchen cabinet, almost all of whom have never been qualified and experienced to occupy the positions they have previously occupied, and are currently opting for. 

I worked closely with Madam Morris before and during the 2023 elections campaign, and I can say, for a fact, that she sacrifices everything for the Unity Party’s success. 

Her leadership, resilience and work output, along with those of many others, were the deciding factors of the party’s victory in the 2023 presidential elections. It is clearly documented by state security apparatuses and international media outlets that Madam Morris literally almost got killed in Gbonota by Rep. Marvin Cole and his thugs while unrelentingly fetching votes for JNB and the Unity Party. It seems everyone forgets everything in a twinkle of an eye. 

But the real issue is, Madam Morris, and many non-Monrovia-based Unity Party supporters who have given their all for the success of the party are being judged using different standards. 

By the very theory being propounded by her detractors, many of those who have, and will be appointed in the days to come, are seemingly unqualified and inexperienced. 

Martha cannot be downplayed only because she is a native kpelleh woman from Bong County. She, plus many other natives, more than deserve to hold positions at the helm of government, and no one should be standing in the way. 

Martha has all of what it takes to supervise most of those who are claiming that she’s not qualified and experienced to serve in the role earmarked for her. 

She’s always been a leader, standing in the gap for thousands of her colleagues in the medical field, seeking commensurate incentives for them, and advocating for the dignity of their labor. Most of the accusers cannot even stand for a single child being abused before their very eyes. 

Because of her uncompromising stance in elevating the plights of her people, she’s been ostracized and has suffered many personal consequences. 

Usually, when I interact with these Monrovia-based folks, I see absolutely nothing they can offer better than us, the rural boys and girls. 

It’s all about being lousy and noisy, and nothing more than that. I do not see how many of them match our success in driving change, transforming institutions and generating outcomes. 

I have, and always will resist marginalization in all of its forms. I will continue to stand in resistance of any attempts to degrade some of our best and brightest only because they are not part of the everyday Monrovia hustle. 

Bong County has a lot more to offer. We need the chance to do so!

GBARNGA, Bong County – Businessman Johnny K. Kpehe is amongst 10 candidates vying to become senator of Bong County. In this interaction with FrontPage Africa’s Selma Lomax, Kpehe speaks on the essence of governance, his programs plans of action for the people of Bong County and the imperatives for commitment, integrity and a rounded knowledge base on the conduct and management of public affairs.

FrontPageAfrica: Kpehe, I like to say welcome to this interview. This has been long pending, but I am glad that both of us are available now.

By Selma Lomax, selma.lomax@frontpageafricaonline.com

Kpehe: Thanks, Lomax. It’s indeed a great pleasure to sit with you on your recognized and widely read platform to share my perspective about the governance and public good of Bong County and Liberia at large.

FrontPageAfrica: Sir, why really do you want to become senator of Bong County? 

Kpehe: The people of Bong County have asked me to serve them as Senator for the county based on my numerous developments, humanitarian, agribusiness, youth and women empowerment, agriculture, infrastructure, scholarship, investment activities in the county coupled with the love for the county. Their call to service and demand for continued interventions in the areas of health, education, road, agribusiness, women empowerment, cultural heritage protection, and other social utilities are sources motivating me in wanting to serve them as Senator of Bong County. As a native son of Bong County, who is qualified constitutionally, I am confident that I can work with all sons and daughters of the county to bring the developments and interventions our people need to better their lives.

Besides, my love for the people of Bong County over the years has taken me through bushes, mud and floods to provide relief and rehabilitation to communities in distress. In my schedules, I steadily appreciate that public service should really be directed at people, communities and organizations that need it. It should not be an elite obsession with the flamboyance of undue protocols, sirens, motorcades, wild parties and so on.

I am offering myself for service in the knowledge that I have a program of action that would elevate the county and our people economically, socially and politically.

FrontPageAfrica: What is your program of action and how is it different from those of other senatorial aspirants? 

Kpehe: Bong County is blessed with resources like water, minerals, good climatic conditions, land, sites for eco-tourism, human capital, etc. These blessings have the potential to alleviate poverty, food insecurity, inequalities, insecurity, and social injustices. The programs of action focused on poverty alleviation, food security, mainstreaming gender related issues in development and decisions making, climate mitigation and job creation. Based on the programs focused, I will work with leaders of county, Bong County citizens Associations, and citizens everywhere to actualize the plans for the county that is in the statement of intent, which is also expected to be well thought-out by the team members and me. Howbeit, There is also the issue of commitment to implementation of promises made doing contestation but with the experienced in Bong County on unfulfilled promises and deception that have undermined the development,  aspirations and progress of the people, we will work hard to change that negative narrative.

FrontPageAfrica: You are reputed in Bong County to have done so much for people, including the provision of loan to market women, provision of tuition aid to students. Do you propose to do same for the people of Bong County if elected senator? 

Kpehe: The world is increasingly assuming the character of a global village where best practices determine who makes the most progress and stays ahead of others. When I am elected senator, I will leverage on my international contacts and goodwill to attract varied international support for our programs and projects. Beyond the international arena, I will explore and pursue collaborative ventures with the fellow colleagues, including members of the Bong Legislative Caucus, the ruling government in 2024. My tenure as senator will not be restricted to the public sector, but extend to supporting the private sector to grow and develop. In the final analysis, the public and private sectors involve Bongese (people of Bong County) one-way or the other. Will work with friendly government and people to promote mentees program, scholarship, students exchange program, etc. we will further relationship with other universities that will help improve learning at the Bong County Technical College.

FrontPageAfrica: The election campaigns of some candidates give the impression there is a kind of war ahead. Are you not worried that things may get nasty? 

Kpehe: I agreed that politics have divided us in Bong County. I also believed that because of the division we have little in development and reconciliation in the county. It is shameful that a few of the aspirants are beginning to fight dirty, which will not give credits to our county and people at large. For me, I see the campaign as an exchange of ideas, commitments and history of service as the basis for election to serve.

Of course, I am worried about peace and unity in the county. Peace and Unity is the foundation need to stand on to promulgate development, heath, education, road, environment, security, ecotourism, etc. I promised that my campaign will on focused on ideas.

FrontPageAfrica: How would you assess your main rivals in the forthcoming election? Do you really think you can defeat them, especially the incumbent senator? 

Kpehe: My rivals in this election are my people expectations about genuine change in their living conditions. Elections are about timing and I see it everywhere I travelled in the county. Bong County people are in geared to make the change the county needs. Some of our best are want to serve as senator for the county but assessment shows that it is not their time to be called to service. The typical politicians have been tested, their results are written on the walls and our people have understood their results. Based on their results, I am called from my business and humanitarian role to politics. I will make the difference our people need.

FrontPageAfrica: What is your vision for Bong County? 

Kpehe: Bong County possesses a wide range of potentials in human and material resources which can only be successfully explored and exploited by men and women of integrity and clear purpose for the benefit of the people. I will not just lazy around awaiting the next allocation of Social Development Funds from the government, but re-energize our people and institutions to our famed vibrancy in resourcefulness, entrepreneurship, scholarship, administration and management. I am confident the people will make an informed choice of who can and will guide them to meaningful and sustainable progress.

FrontPageAfrica: You are not known to have a very rich political background in Bong County, what brought you to this level?

Kpehe: Politics is about the People. My rich political background is entrench in the people.  I am in this senatorial race because of my people. The people are the reason I am at this level.

FrontPageAfrica: Kpehe, it was wonderful speaking with you. Thanks so much.

Kpehe: Lomax, thanks so much.

MONROVIA – Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor has concluded a week-long consultative meeting in and across Bong County, where she did not only assess the development challenges and gaps of Liberia’s third vote-rich county.

Howard-Taylor, a native of Sanoyea District in Bong County, used the week-long visit to rally residents of the county to vote for President George Weah in 2023 for having the audacity to choose their own daughter as his vice president.

According to the vice president, the primary goal of the week-long consultative events was to unite and promote peace and co-existence among residents of the county. 

She called on residents to put their socio-political differences aside and come together as “brothers and sisters” to advance the well-being of residents and accentuate their county to noble heights.

She thanked the people of Bong for their massive support to the government of President Weah and stated that the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) government was deeply grateful to Bong County for its unwavering support from 2017 to the present.

Howard-Taylor, an esteemed Chief of the Kpelleh land, pointed out that when other presidential candidates looked over places for a vice running mate in 2017, President Weah chose Bong County and selected their daughter to become his vice president, a generosity that must be jealously cherished and remembered by the great people of Bong County.

In her well-organized and jammed-packed consultative meetings with Chiefs, elders,  politicians, local officials, women groups, youth groups, religious and business communities, and other essential segments of the county, Veep Taylor stated that as a mark of gratitude to President Weah and the CDC government who have handsomely honored Bong county with the Number-2 position in the power structure of Liberia, she pleaded with her kinsmen to overwhelmingly support the reelection of the Weah-Taylor bid come 2023.

She intimated and strongly emphasized that President Weah and the CDC are highly counting on the unflinching support of Bong as it is counting on the rest of the other counties to secure a decisive win in 2023. 

Howard-Taylor told residents of the county that President Weah and the CDC are counting on the votes of Bong County in 2023 and remain profoundly grateful to the county for the unyielding support to his government.

“We need Bong more than ever, so I call on my resilient people of Bong to give us their support in a very massive way, come 2023. This election in 2023 is a Bong County affair. For the more than 170 years that Liberia has been in existence, Bong County has always been asked to support other people for the presidency, but never had the opportunity to provide a Vice President. This is the first time in our history that somebody has said, ‘the Kpelle people, who are the largest tribe in our country, deserve something. So, let’s ask them to come and join us. It took President Weah with that wisdom to bring the Kpelle people on board. And it’s not just me at the Vice-Presidential level, there are many deputy and assistant ministers that are working in various sectors. I was shocked when we called the political parties’ meeting last Friday that almost 32 persons came from different agencies working for the government. So, Bong County is really represented in the government space.

“This election is a Bong County issue. In this election President Weah is running, but Bong County is running too because your daughter is sitting in this space. If we continue to do the work we are doing, we will continue to ask that Bong County stand with me, because I am the one sitting in the Number 2 seat. If we go and give the Bong County vote to somebody else, there will be a Vice President that will not come from Bong. But I believe Bong County has a chance in 2023 to add our voice together for the Weah-Taylor ticket because Bong County is involved in this process. I am satisfied with the level of support we have gotten from all of the meetings, and I am doing a report to His Excellency the President, to talk about all of the shortfalls at the county level,” Madam Taylor said when she addressed the media at the close of her consultative meetings.

She named several development projects the government has progressively embarked on in the areas of road development, healthcare, and education, and revealed that President Weah will soon be in the county to cut the ribbon on the completion of most of those projects. Political pundits say with the massive turnout at these consultative meetings that brought the entire county together, for almost a week, there is no doubt that Bong County remains the stronghold of Veep Taylor.

Gbarnga – Former Bong County superintendent Dr. Ranney Jackson has declared his interest to run as a Senator in 2023.

Dr.  Jackson made the declaration on Saturday while addressing supporters in Gbarnga upon his return from the United States of America.  

“I have come to inform you of my intention to contest the 2023 senatorial race in Bong County,” Dr. Jackson said.

Dr. Jackson will be contesting the Senate race for a record fourth time, having contested 2005, 2011, and 2014 elections, losing on all of those occasions. 

His best finish was 2011 when he lost to Henry Yallah by over 700 votes, accumulating over 27, 000 votes.

Under Jackson’s watch as superintendent, Bong County recorded a lot of developments, including the fencing of the David Kuyon Sports stadium, renovation of the presidential compound, rehabilitation of the superintendent’s compound, and the provision of electricity in Gbarnga, among others.

His supporters think Jackson remains the most prepared for the Senate seat considering his experience in party politics at the county level.

Were the race to be a senator of Bong County a free gift Jackson would be easily crowned because of his rich credentials.

Jackson’s ambition, however, hinges on whether his brother-in-law Tokpa will seek re-election. According to many, negotiations are underway for Tokpa to back off for Jackson, but it’s not clear whether Tokpa has caved in to allow Jackson to contest.

As one of the oldest aspirants in the race, Jackson’s influence and popularity would be brought to bear as he would not need an introduction to the electorates. Political observers say Jackson is not too close to the grassroots in the county, a major factor that led to all his defeats during the time he contested.

Dr. Jackson, a former legislator in the National Transitional Legislative Assembly (NTLA), told FrontPageAfrica:

“When I, along with my Committee on Post and Telecommunication, was able to break the monopoly on the cellphone industry,” he added.

Continuing, he said: “Now today, we have many cellphone companies and different denominations of payments for minutes instead of a $15.00 USD payment for phone cards. I was able to suggest that for the first election in 2005, two representative seats be given to each county before we go by population, for fear that without such policy, Montserrado could get all of the seats since almost the entire population was in Monrovia. Still Montserrado got 17 seats while some counties got only two seats. Our country needs a strong legislature if our country will need to move forward.”

Jackson’s declaration brings to nine the number of candidates who have announced their intentions to contest.

As at press time there were eight persons who have shown interest, including District Five lawmaker Edward Karfiah of the People’s Unification Party (PUP), former Bong County Senator Henry Yallah of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), former Agriculture Minister Dr. Mogana Flomo, former president of the Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY) and a member of the opposition All Liberian Party (ALP), Mohammed Nasser, the former ruling Unity Party (UP), and business man Johnny Kpehe, Amos Barbu, of the National Patriotic Party, and 

Factors that will determine the winner of next year’s election will include the aspirant’s personality and acceptability, party strength, support of a critical segment of the population in Bong County, and the aspirant’s financial capability. In no particular order, here’s a brief about how residents of Bong County have accepted the news of these aspirants’ ambitions.

Gbarnga, Bong County – It is another election year in Bong and the Charles Taylor rhetoric is popping up yet again. This time around it is coming from senatorial aspirant, Menipakei Dumoe. Dumoe is acting chairman of the opposition pressure group, Council of Patriots (COP), and could contest as an independent candidate in the December 8 Special Senatorial elections.

The quest for Bong County Senate seat so far has nine contestants, including the incumbent, Henry Yallah. Dumoe, the newest in Bong’s politics, is the only candidate running with an agenda tied to the release of the former Liberian president Charles Taylor.

Taylor’s name is still as strong in Bong County, five years since he was sentenced to 50 years for war crimes committed in neighboring Seirra Leone

Dumoe said Taylor should be released from prison to ensure peace and stability in West Africa.

Associating with the former Liberian president has become a risky political gamble during elections; yet Dumoe understands that the name Taylor still plays magic in quarters of Bong County.

In a fiercely contested senatorial election in 2014, current Liberian vice president, Jewel Howard-Taylor, made significant political strife using a purported voice recording of her ex-husband rallying the support of ex-fighters from the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) and supporters of the National Patriotic Party (NPP).

One hour to the end of campaign activities in 2014, Howard-Taylor released an audio that was broadcast on Radio Gbarnga, which she claimed was the voice of her former husband. Howard-Taylor said her former husband had a ‘special’ message for residents of the county.

In a one-minute audio, the purported Charles Taylor said : “I am Charles Ghankay Taylor, speaking to the people of Bong County from prison in London. I want to urge those of you under the sound of my voice in Bong County to vote for Jewel Howard-Taylor, my former wife. I strongly believed doing so would enable her fight for my release from prison. If you still love me as your leader, kindly vote for Jewel Howard-Taylor.”

The audio sent residents of the county into frenzy and appeared to be a determinant factor in Howard-Taylor’s re-election. Supporters of Taylor, mainly youths, trooped at the station to see their former president – thinking Mr. Taylor may have been present in studio. In fact, in Gbartala, in Bong County, the base of Taylor’s former army, the Anti Terrorists Unit, some former members celebrated hearing their former president’s  voice.

She won ninety per cent of the votes in Gbartala at the expense of her main challenger Henrique Tokpa, a feat residents of Gbartala claimed was due to the audio of “Charles Taylor”.

Dumoe worked for Howard-Taylor in 2014. He was involved in all the electioneering propaganda that got then Senator Howard-Taylor reelected for a second term. So, he thinks what works for the goose, works for the gander.

He has promised residents of the county that he would ensure the release of the former Liberian president. “When I am elected senator of Bong County, I will ensure that I write the court to free Charles Taylor,” Dumoe said.

He says Mr. Taylor should be released from prison to ensure peace and stability in West Africa.” Liberians are still hurt by the detention of Charles Taylor and I strongly feel we as leaders of the country should seek his unconditional release from prison.”

Dumoe says his call for Taylor’s release has been influenced by some chiefs of the county while on campaign. “The chiefs have been telling me to push for the release of Taylor and I have promised them that I would ensure that when elected.”

Dumoe in a FrontPageAfrica interview Sunday called the former Liberia president ‘freedom fighter and a visionary.’

Unlike Howard-Taylor, Dumoe has received a barrage of criticisms from residents of the county with many saying that his quest to release Charles Taylor is another political strategy to gain power at the expense of the people.

Mark Peters, ex-fighter of Taylor’s NPFL and resident of Gbarnga, described Dumoe as “political hustler” who is using the name of Taylor to gain relevance. “I really don’t trust what Dumoe is saying. I still love Taylor but I don’t think a person like Dumoe can influence the release of Taylor even if he becomes senator of the county,” he said.

Leroy Benson, a resident of Gbartala, describes Dumoe’s quest to seek the release of Taylor as ambitious and an attempt to seek popularity. “I think he’s seeking the attention from the people of Bong County. He should tell the people of Bong what better thing he has to done than to use the Charles Taylor rhetoric,” he said.

Also, Liberian journalist, Jallah Grayfield, have this to say about Dumoe’s campaign agenda.

“Charles Taylor will not be freed, rethink your strategy Dumoe! The last time I checked, Menipakei Dumoe was rallying support for AK-47 instead of rice.

“Our health facilities are in mess today. Crimes have increasingly overwhelmed us. Rapists are killing our little girls and gang raping their mothers. These are the spoils of the senseless war unleashed on us by Taylor and Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, and their likes.

“This is the most senseless comment I have ever heard from a so-called educated young man like Dumoe, to free a Taylor, whose actions impacted Sierra Leone negatively. Such actions spilled over to Ivory Coast, leaving Guinea to fund LURD rebels in defense of their citizens that got killed by Taylor. This is just sheer nonsense,” Jallah wrote. 

Another journalist and current affairs commentator, Samuka V. Konneh, wonders who benefits if Taylor gets freed. “I wonder who benefits from that – NPFl ex-rebels or the actual people of Bong County? Really? Why does Dumoe think freedom for Taylor, a convicted war criminal, is the biggest problem faced by Bong’s people? Ohh, maybe Dumoe think every Bong person is an ex-rebel, support or beneficiary,” Samuka says.

But the politician hit back at his critics, calling them ‘idiots.’ “One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter. The idiots criticizing me forget Nelson Mandela was once designated a terrorist by many and was even on a US travel ban listing for years. The CNN intellectuals plenty with their poor understanding of the cold war years and the many tragedies that occurred. Anyways, I stand by my statement: Free Taylor and Free him now.”

In another Facebook post, he says: “Who are you fooling? You love Yekeh Kolubah. You love EJS who funded the war. “More mortar” Sekou is cool. You even ran a Weah-TAYLOR ticket in 2017 but to free Taylor day bad thing???

Well, Dumoe calls his critics idiot; but will his voters, too, be idiots?

Gbarnga – The National Patriotic Party (NPP), Bong County Chapter says it was unaware of the July 29 primary held by the Congress for Democratic Change that saw the endorsement of Sen. Yallah to contest on the ticket of the Coalition for Democratic Change of which they are all part of.

Report by Lennart Dodoo, ldodoo@frontpageafricaonline.com

The NPP is the larger constituent of the Coalition right after the Congress for Democratic Change. Alex Tyler’s Liberia People Democratic Party (LPDP) is also a member of the Coalition.

“We as an institution feel that the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) is not respecting the Coalition document signed in 2016, which saw the formation of a Coalition and clearly states in the Addendum that, parties to the coalition which have seats in the legislature (Representative and Senator), shall reserve the right of nomination to those seats, which has not been respected by the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC),” the NPP Bong Chapter stated in a press statement.

Bong County is the stronghold of NPP and they believe that the Coalition must respect that fact that the County is their base, therefore, there should no contestant from a member of the Coalition against the NPP in the County.

During the 2017 presidential runoff election, the CDC accumulated 70,668 votes which accounts for 64.2 percent of the overall votes in the county during that runoff.

“We as an institution feel that the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) is not respecting the Coalition document signed in 2016, which saw the formation of a Coalition and clearly states in the Addendum that, parties to the coalition which have seats in the legislature (Representative and Senator), shall reserve the right of nomination to those seats, which has not been respected by the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC).”

– National Patriotic Party, Bong County Chapter

“The NPP Bong Chapter maintains that what was done in Gbarnga, Bong County on July 29, 2020 is a mere show of bluff and will be met with resistance if the actors do not return to status quo. The County Chapter believes no constituent party has ever gotten involved with Montserrado, because it is the base or strong hold of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), just as Bong County is to the NPP and warn the Congress for Democratic Change to desist from getting involved in the Bong County selection process,” they included in the statement.

During the endorsement of Sen. Yallah, Jorquelleh District 3 Representative J. Marvin Cole, stressed the need for Senator Yallah to contest on the ticket of the ruling party in the ensuing senatorial election in Bong County.

Representative Cole explained that the CDC has built confidence and trust in Senator Yallah as people-center leader as such; there is a need for him to be given the second chance to serve the County at the Liberian Senate on the CDC ticket.

Representative Cole assured Senator Yallah that they will vigorously campaign for his re-election in the county.

Gbarnga – Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor has made it clear that she will not support the re-election of Bong County Senator Henry Yallah, President George Weah’s candidate for the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC).

Report by Selma Lomax, selma.lomax@frontpageafricaonline.com

Howard-Taylor’s National Patriotic Party (NPP) is one of three constituent parties that make up the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change.

Yallah was endorsed by three collaborating political parties making up the ruling coalition: (NPP), Congress for Democratic Change (CDC)and the Liberia People’s Democratic Party( LPDP).

Later, the NPP distanced itself from the endorsement, stating that the party had not made a decision on who to support in Bong County.

During a political rally in Yallah’s Kokoyah District in 2018, Howard-Taylor branded him a “snake” and urged county residents not to re-elect him. “Senator Yallah does not deserve re-election,” she said. “He’s is snake who can’t be trusted.”

She told citizens that Yallah has failed to bring any significant dividends to the people who elected him.

She promised to do everything in her power to ensure that Yallah is not re-elected.

Speaking to Radio Gbarnga last week Friday, Howard-Taylor reaffirmed her stance against Yallah’s re-election. “Senator Yallah joined President Weah’s CDC and so it’s up to the party to ensure he gets re-elected,” she said.

“I am not a loose talker. I am not someone who speaks on top of my head. When I made those comments about Senator Yallah I thought about the situation that existed at the time in Bong County and those situations still exist. I maintain those comments about Senator Yallah heading to the December elections,” she said.

Howard-Taylor, however, did not say who will support in the December 8, 2020 election.

Other candidates running for the Bong senatorial seat race are former Liberia Ambassador to the United States of America, Jeremiah Sulunteh, Dorothy Tooman, former head of the Development Education Network Liberia (DEN-L), former president of the Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY), Mohammed Nasser, Dr. Mogana Flomo, Jr, former minister of agriculture, Benedict Sagbeh, former legal advisor of the Forestry Development Authority, Menikpakei Dumoe, acting chairman of Council of Patriots and Deputy House Speaker and District Two lawmaker, Prince Moye.

“I have not decided yet, “she said. “ The day I decide to support a candidate, I will make that public in Gbarnga,” she said.

“I am not a loose talker. I am not someone who speak on top of my head. When I made those comments about Senator Yallah I thought about the situation that existed at the time in Bong County and those situations still exist. I maintain those comments about Senator Yallah heading to the December elections”

– Jewel Howard Taylor, Vice President

Asked why she is not supporting Tooman, the lone female aspirant in the race, despite her advocacy for increasing women representation in the Legislature, Howard-Taylor replied: “I want the best candidate for Bong County. If I don’t find that person, I will remain silent.”

Amos Barbu, secretary general of NPP’s Bong County chapter, said the vice president’s decision is based on President Weah’s quest to disintegrate the NPP ahead of the 2023.

He cited the recent resignation by Howard-Taylor’s long time ally, Superintendent Esther Walker, who joined Weah’s CDC last week. “The president cannot be disintegrating our party and expect the vice president to support a candidate of his choice in Bong County,” Barbu said.

Commenting on the resignation of Walker from the NPP, Howard-Taylor said she has no bad feeling towards her friend. “The superintendent and I are not fussing. I strongly believe her decision was politically motivated,” Howard-Taylor said.  “I respect her for her decision.”

“If you can break a relationship of 27 years only because of job security, no problem.”

Howard-Taylor said there were no personal issues between she and Walker before the superintendent’s resignation.

Howard-Taylor also took jabs at George Mulbah, former Bong County representative of District Three. She said  Mulbah, who has endorsed Moye’s bid for the Senate, is “morally bankrupt.”

He lacks the political influence in the county to campaign for anyone running for the Senatorial seat. “There are people who have lost respect among residents of the county, “she said. “Selecting those individuals to spearhead your campaigns would be detrimental to your ambition,” she said. George Mulbah is one such people. He does not have the integrity to influence decision in Bong County politics.”

Mulbah responded to the vice president’s comments in a live Facebook post on July 25.

He said Howard-Taylor was speaking out of frustration because of his current stance against the vice president in the ongoing internal wrangling within the NPP.

Gbarnga, Bong County – A flurry of resignations has emerged within the Alternative National Congress (ANC) Bong County chapter following the resignation of the party’s former vice standard bearer, Jeremiah Sulunteh.

Sulunteh resigned last week after he accused the party of betrayal following the allocation of counties by the Collaborating Political Parties for the December 8 special Senatorial election.

The ANC is part of a collaboration of political parties including All Liberian Party and Liberty Party that recently agreed to select candidates for the December elections as enshrined in a Framework Document of the CPP.

Mass Defection

As many as seven officials of the party in the county Saturday resigned following a mass meeting in Gbarnga.

Those who resigned include: Ebenezer Gotolo, head of auxiliary, Bong chapter, Flomo Botokai, vice chair for administration, Bong chapter, Allen Paulono, spokesman for the party during the 2017 presidential elections, Ferguson Kollie, campaign mobilization chairman in Bong County during the 2017 presidential elections and John O. Flomo, former campaign chairman in Bong.

In a letter of resignation to the party’s Bong County chairman, James Saybay, the aggrieved ANC partisans stated: “We the aggrieved partisans of the ANC in Bong County have reached a decision to resign from the party with immediate effect based on the constant betrayal of the party towards its former vice standard bearer, Jeremiah Sulunteh.”

The aggrieved partisans said the decision by the Collaborating Political Parties to allot counties to political parties without a primary was undemocratic. “We can’t be part of a process that promotes undemocratic tendencies. We criticize the ruling establishment for undemocratic issues and we are opposition political parties have proven to be more undemocratic by virtue of the fact that we were unable to conduct a primary to select a candidate,” John O. Flomo, an aggrieved ANC partisan told FPA.

However, there was no official response word from the party in the county about the resignations of its partisans.

Sulunteh, following his resignation, didn’t announce his next political parties but maintained that he will contest as an Independent candidate. “Definitely, I will contest the election as an Independent candidate. I felt betrayed by my party because of the Voters Perceptions Survey,’ he said.