GBARNGA, Bong – President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has appointed Charles Mulbah as acting president of the Bong County Technical College. His appointment takes immediate effect.

Mulbah is a former dean of the College of Agriculture and Sustainable Development at Cuttington University.

In his appointment letter dated October 8, 2017, Sirleaf requests Mulbah to work with the Board of Directors of the college and the Bong County Legislative Caucus to reopen the college.

“As you are aware, we have appointed a search committee for the recruitment of the president for the college on a permanent basis,” the letter read. “However, as the college is at a critical stage in its development, we cannot afford to leave the position vacant for an extended period.”

Mulbah will serve as head of the college on an interim basis pending the conclusion of the recruitment process for a president, according to the letter.

Sirleaf closed the college in June this year following a series of protests by students. She promised to have reopened the college in September with a new president and reconstituted board to administer the affairs of the institution.

However, Sirleaf did not live up to her promise; the school has not opened yet, the board is not reconstituted, and an interim president was appointed instead of a permanent president.

With the appointment of another interim president of the school, it is not clear when the school will open as hundreds of students wait to continue their studies.

Funded by Bong County’s Social Development Fund, the construction of the college was expected to have been completed in 2012, following the groundbreaking in December 2010.

The construction is being done by the Liberia China United Investment Group.

The initial cost of the project was placed at US$4.2 million. At present, the county has infused more than US$5 million, and the project is yet to be completed.

Featured photo courtesy of Charles Mulbah