Africa-Press – Liberia. A reported L$12 million intended for market and rural women in Bong County has vanished into thin air, with no trace of how the funds have been used or distributed.
However, Representative of Electoral District #3, Josiah Marvin Cole, is pointing accusing fingers at the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) Bong Chapter chairman and others for squandering the funds. The money was provided by President George Weah through the CDC national chairman, Mulbah Morlu, for onward distribution to marketers and other women in the county.
Cole disclosed that the L$12 million was a part of the L$219 million disbursement promised by President Weah to rural women, especially marketers, within the 73 electoral districts of Liberia for empowerment.
The controversial Bong County officials named in the alleged squandering of the funds are: Bong CDC Chairman, Sayblee Menebai Varyao Weyea; NPP Youth Wing Chairman and Bong County District #2 Representative Aspirant, A. Victor Tokpah; Bong County Superintendent, Esther Y. Walker; and the Liberia Marketing Association Bong chapter (L.M.A) Superintendent, Tumu T. Allen.
He noted that it is very reprehensible to see local leaders of the ruling establishment in the county diverting money intended to empower the downtrodden for their selfish gains.
“The L$12 million provided by President Weah has been stolen by those wicked people who are only interested in their personal development and family,” Cole said. He wants the national leadership of the CDC to launch a probe into how the money got missing.
“We want the Executive Committee of the CDC to launch an investigation into the disappearance of money in order to ensure that the cash is retrieved and given to the suffering marketers, who massively voted for President Weah in the 2017 general election.”
It can be recalled that during President George Weah’s nationwide or county tour, the Liberian leader promised to empower marketers in all the counties in order to help improve their livelihoods and those of their children.
When contacted, Weyea and Tokpah said that they have no knowledge of Cole’s narrative, and he being the lone CDC lawmaker of the county and as the ears and eyes of President Weah, he should be more aware of what is happening instead of speculating on the disappearance of the money.
The duo denied their involvement in the alleged disappearance of the funds.
When also contacted, Superintendent Walker told this reporter that she is sick and will respond appropriately to Cole’s allegation when she gets well.
Gbarnga Marketing Association President, Allen, said she wants to remain silent on the issue because “big hands” are involved in the alleged squandering of the President’s L$12 million loan money to market women in the county.
Meanwhile, many citizens, especially market women in the county, are planning a massive protest against the local leaders who are involved in the squandering of their loan money in the county.
“Our leaders should not be doing this to us. Why can’t they pity our conditions? The money was intended for us, but they feel they need money more than we ordinary market women. This is not fair,” a market woman identified only as Leemu said. “We will ensure that they pay every cent they have eaten.”
Another said that they are on the verge of instituting a sustained protest that will force the leaders who are involved to restore the money. “We will not rest until they bring back every dollar they have eaten. You cannot be this wicked to your own people,” she said. “We will ensure that the money eating virus that is in this country is finally taken out.
The market women said the pending protest intends to demand their leaders provide the money given by the Weah government.
They described the alleged actions of their local leaders as a serious embarrassment to the growth and development of Liberia.
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