Africa-Press – Liberia. The Plenary of the House of Representatives has cited the Minister of Education, Prof. Ansu D. Sonii, and the Management of Bridge Liberia to appear before the August Body on November 1.
Plenary took the decision a week ago, October 25, during its 2nd day Sitting of the Third Quarter, following a communication from Montserrado County District #9 Representative, Frank Saah Foko, Jr. In his communication, Foko said Bridge International Academies, an educational, for Profit Company, continues to defraud the Liberian Government through thousands — if not millions — of United States Dollars, through duty-free and other privileges.
“What is even more regrettable, Speaker and distinguished colleagues is that a recent interview by a Principal of a Bridge-sponsored school, Willis Town Public School in Montserrado decries the situation at her school — leaking roof, limited supplies, and inadequate teaching materials, etc,” Foko asserted.
According to the Montserrado lawmaker, if this is happening right within Montserrado County, it worries him about Bridge operations with Schools in Maryland, Grand Kru, Grand Gedeh, Lofa and other far to reach places.
Foko said that in fact, it took President George Weah to renovate a Bridge School, the Kendeja Public School in the RLJ community before it became conducive for students.
“How can they account for all the monies they get in Liberia’s name when we barely see what they do on the ground? Bridge has no assets, bank accounts of any sort that can at least guarantee their stability and accountability in Liberia,” Foko asserts.
The Montserrado County lawmaker mentioned that one of the Company’s annual reports in his possession saw them raise around six million USD from donors and being in partnership with the Country, Liberians can barely see what these monies go towards as monies collected are not in Liberian banks but outside.
He further stated that in the last three years alone, Bridge Liberia has moved to three new offices like squatters and working conditions are very unfavorable.
“There is barely a vehicle they own to their name, lest you say a bike for their rural workers. This is a scam, Hon. Speaker and colleagues,” Foko assert.
At the same time, Foko has accused the company of having one of the worst labor practices on record. “In 2020, the company laid off 17 staff on grounds of ‘Force Merger’ but, as per the law, such layoff, when effected upon recruiting for the same position, the laid off staff should be given first preference, this law, as many others, was disregarded by Bridge, and according to a reliable source, this matter is still on the docket at the Labor Ministry.
Recently, less than a month ago, Bridge continued their usual pattern and laid-off another fifteen Liberians; but these staff were never warned or suspended, but dismissed arbitrarily with matters languishing at the Labor Ministry at the moment.”
Foko also told his colleagues that Bridge has changed its name globally from Bridge International to New Globe without having those changes affect Liberian books which, in his mind, has got criminal intent and at the same time, they have been receiving duty-free privileges at the Free Port of Liberia for years, claiming to be non-profit which is grossly misleading.
Accordingly, Bridge Liberia supports the Ministry of Education to significantly improve learning and teaching within public schools; providing a better future for Liberia’s youth.
Bridge is said to provide books and other learning materials to designated schools including renovation and pay about 1,500 teachers salaries among others as a partnership with the Liberian Government.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has also summoned Authorities of the National Elections Commission, Public Procurement and Concession Commission and the National Identification Registry to appear today.
The House took the decision following a communication from Grand Bassa County Electoral District#5 Representative Thomas Goshua craving the indulgence of his Colleagues to have the NEC appear as a result of what he calls growing controversies between the National Elections Commission and the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission over the NEC’s alleged breach of the Public Procurement and Concessions Act in awarding the biometric contract to EKEMP.
According to Goshua’s communication experts have opined that given the lack of cellular network access in most rural communities in Liberia coupled with the short timeframe, the Biometric Voting System may not work to achieve the objectives of the Country’s democracy- transparency & accountability.
The Communication further emphasized that election workers are only trained to the OMR system and may experience difficulties upgrading to the Biometric System not because of lack of capacity, but due to insufficient timing.
“In view of the forgoing, we humbly call on Plenary to invite the Commissioners of the National Elections Commission to explain to this August-Body the possibility of holding the 2023 general and presidential elections using the Biometric System, as well as the controversial awarding of the procurement contract as being speculated”. Hon. Goshua Communication stated.
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