Africa-Press – Liberia. A new era has dawned in Nimba County with the swearing-in of the latest cohort of county leaders led by Superintendent Kou Meapeh Gono to oversee governance under the Unity Party-led government.
The induction ceremony, held on May 13, 2024, witnessed the formalization of appointments for key positions, including Superintendent, Development Officer, Finance Officer, and County Administrative Officer.
Notably, these positions have adopted new nomenclatures in alignment with the recently enacted New Local Government Act of 2018. Amidst a diverse gathering comprising members of the Nimba Legislative Caucus, Justice Yarmin Quiqui Gbeasaye, chiefs, elders, and community members, Meapeh Gono, the newly appointed Superintendent, delivered a promise of transparent and inclusive leadership focused on promoting peace and reconciliation amongst Nimba citizens.
In her inaugural address, she expressed her commitment to collaborative governance, emphasizing her role as a team player dedicated to advancing the collective interests of the county. With a heartfelt pledge to serve as a unifying force, Superintendent Meapeh Gono underscored her intention to prioritize the equitable treatment of all tribes and stakeholders in Nimba.
“To the people of Nimba, I have come with humility not as your boss, but as your daughter, and sister so we can work together for the common good of our county,” Meapeh Gono said in her opening statement. “I have not come as a dictator, but I have come as a servant and with an open mind and ear to listen to your concern and needs.”
As the fourth and youngest female superintendent in the proud history of Nimba County, Gono’s leadership heralds a new chapter marked by an emphasis on grassroots engagement, transparent resource allocation, and a concerted effort toward sustainable development.
Highlighting key priorities for her tenure, Superintendent Gono articulated a comprehensive vision encompassing improvements in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and tourism development within Nimba County.
She emphasized a commitment to enhancing the utilization of county resources and promoting accountability in the management of social development funds for the betterment of all residents. Noteworthy is Gono’s pioneering focus on the tourism sector, with plans to revitalize iconic sites like Lake Teleh, Mount Nimba, and the Gbadin Waterfall to foster tourism initiatives and economic growth.
In a steadfast pledge to address pressing challenges such as road rehabilitation, youth empowerment, and healthcare service quality, the new superintendent’s administration sets a tone of proactive governance aimed at advancing the well-being of Nimba’s populace.
Meapeh Gono is the fourth and youngest female superintendent of Nimba, since gaining county status in the 1960s. The first female superintendent was Rachel Miller, who was appointed by disgraced and jailed President Charles Taylor. Miller was followed by Edith Gongloe Weh and Christiana Dagadu, both appointed by former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
In the packed City Hall of Sanniquellie, the new superintendent, as the Chief Lieutenant of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Meapeh Gono promised to lobby with the central government to ensure that Nimba receives a fair share of the county resources.
“We will endure transparency in the use of our county social development funds to improve the lives of our county,” she said.
She stressed the need to improve the education system in Nimba and also embarked on improving the tourism sector in the county.
However, besides the position of superintendent, the remaining positions took different nomenclatures in line with the New Local Government Act, which was signed into law in 2018.
The Local Government Act gave different nomenclatures to several positions. The position of Development Superintendent will now be called County Development Officer, the County Fiasco Affairs Superintendent will now be called County Finance Officer while the position of County Inspector was completely left, with the creation of a new position known as County Administrative Officer
Meanwhile, as she advocates for transparent partnerships with the central government and external stakeholders, Gono’s leadership promises to navigate the complexities of governance with a focus on inclusivity, integrity, and sustainable progress for Nimba County.
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