By Emmanuel Mafelah |
The Catholic Justice and Peace Commission (JPC) and the Foundation for International Dignity (FIND) have petitioned the Liberian government through the Ministry of Internal Affairs not to accept and approve any of the resolutions emerging from the Bong County Council Sitting.
The petition which was presented by the Regional Coordinator of the catholic Justice and Peace Commission (JPC) Jesse B. Cole and the National Program Officer of the Foundation for International Dignity (FIND) Aaron G. V. Juakollie said the 2018-2019 budget law section 9.III of Liberia was violated by the Bong County Legislative Caucus and presiding, Senator Henry Willie Yallah by selecting and appointing an unknown man called Abraham Jutomue Kollie as controller.
The two Civil Society advocates further said the Budget law of Liberia states “To elect three members of the project management committee PMC once every three years comprising a Chairperson, Treasure and a Controller.
“The Council shall define criteria for qualification to contest the position of PMC, Treasurer and PMC Controller, said qualification according to the law, and should be based on professional training and working experience in the field of the accounting but that was not the case of Abraham Jutomue Kollie ascendency to the position as Controller,” they adds.
Mr. Cole and Mr. Juakollie have also told this paper that the criteria for the PMC Treasurer and PMC Controller were not discussed during the county council sitting as prescribed by the Budget law and decisions reached in the county council sitting were not done by vote count or consensus by delegates as stated in the law.
They said it was also observed that funds were allotted not to projects but bulk figure, allotted to districts and institutions, thus making it difficult to be monitored by CSOs as prescribed by the budget law of the country. They further said 20% allotted by the County Council sitting to effected communities by concessionaires like, Kokoyah District in Bong County also violates the Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) between Accloremittal and the government of Liberia.
According to them Article 12 of the MDA which states ‘established a dedicated funds committee to manage and disburse the annual US$3million social contribution for Nimba, Bassa and Bong Counties were also violated.
“In our minds, the MDA has not being repealed but the county sitting when ahead to take over major functions of the Dedicated Funds Committees. We think these violations are inimical to the interest of the people of Bong County and must be stopped,” they said.
The two Civil Society Actors have asked the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ timely intervention or else, they will be left will no other alternative but to seeks legal redress in Court of law and a proper interpretations of the MDAs aforementioned.
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