SANNIQULLIE, Nimba—Nimba’s new superintendent, Kou Meapeh Gono, has vowed to commission a comprehensive audit of the past county government’s funds and assets management.
In her induction address on Monday, May 13 at Tubman Hall in Sanniquellie, Gono told Nimbaians that her planned audit is meant to promote transparency and accountability, which is in line with President Joseph Boakai’s agenda.
“First on the ARREST Agenda is accountability,” she said. “Accountability for us is a must, and with the help of my respected lawmakers – a very progressive legislative caucus – we will commission a comprehensive audit of all our county’s coffers and assets.”
Many welcomed Gono’s decision to audit the county’s past activities, including the Nimba County Legislative Caucus and the Nimba Bar Association. Both groups fully supported working with Gono to ensure a successful audit.
Some attendees at the induction program. Photo: Jerry Myers
The county’s 24th superintendent also promised to promote Nimba’s tourism sector by investing in the development of Liberia’s largest artificial lake (Lake Tileh in Sanniquellie), the East Nimba Nature Reserve, Gbedin Waterfall, and the Eighteen Islands along the Cestos River in Gbi and Doru Administrative District. Gono added that she wants more people to recognize the historic nature of Sanniquellie, the birthplace of the Organization of African Unity, now the African Union.
Laying her vision for Nimba’s education system, Gono promised to focus on youth vocational programs.
“The future of our county lies in our ability to invest in the human capacity of Nimba,” Gono said. “We will work closely with all institutions of learning to ensure our students are receiving standard education. I am a young parent, and I want to superintend the affairs of education in a county that I can trust with my own children’s education without fear.”
The new county superintendent said she would approach her job with humility: “I am not here as a dictator, but a servant with an open mind and ears in listening to your concerns and needs; I have come not as an imposter, but a team member so we can collectively foster the interest of all Nimbaians.”
Gono was previously secretary general of the Alternative National Congress. In 2011, she contested for the representative seat in Montserrado’s sixth electoral district, placing second. She was later appointed in 2012 as assistant minister for administration at the Ministry of Labor. Gono was active in the Unity Party campaign in the 2023 elections, where she was appointed head of the JNB Tact Team in June 2023.
At the induction ceremony, outgoing superintendent Nelson Korquoi shocked many Nimbaians when he disclosed in his turnover note that he had inherited over US$2.7 million. This was contrary to his statements when he first took over the superintendent’s office, where he claimed that he had inherited empty coffers.
Korquoi said his administration undertook 56 projects across the county, most of which were completed and are currently in use.
He named the construction projects as four bridges in Gbao Clan in Nimba’s second district, an office for disabled persons in Sanniquellie, ten hand pumps in Ganta, four bridges in Nimba’s fourth district, a commissioner’s compound in Nimba’s eighth district, an annex to the Tappeh Memorial High School in Tappita, and the repair of 19 of the county’s 22 road construction equipment.
Nimba County’s new leadership taking the oath of office at their induction ceremony. Photo: Jerry Myers
Korquoi informed Gono that although most of the projects were completed, some contractors had refused to implement the projects they had been awarded despite being awarded funds. He urged Gono to continue legally pursuing those contractors to hold them accountable.
The former superintendent also disclosed that he was leaving US$3.3 million in the county’s accounts, an increase in what he inherited. Contrary to rumors that he mismanaged the county’s funds during his administration, Korquoi said he worked diligently to manage the county finances responsibly.
He disclosed that the General Auditing Commission audited his administration in August 2023, but the GAC has not released its findings.
Liberia’s internal affairs minister also attended the induction ceremony, where he inducted the new officers. Francis S. Nyumalin challenged the new officials to govern in close consultation with the county’s traditional leaders and heads of ministries and agencies.
Nyumalin also clarified the official titles of county officials, as denoted by the Local Government Act. The county assistant superintendent was now called the county development officer, the assistant superintendent for fiscal affairs is now the county finance officer, and the county inspector is now the county administration officer.
Besides Gono, Peter S. Karngbaye was inducted as a county development officer, Dudley Debois as county finance officer, Daniel S. Zehkpeh as county administration officer, Zramein Z. Zinor as mayor of Sanniquellie, and Samuel Hardt as mayor of Ganta.
Nyumalin said other local government appointees were not included in the ceremony because they did not receive official appointment letters from President Joseph Boakai until he left for the U.S. However, Nyumalin said all former local officials not reappointed by Boakai should cease to serve in their respective roles.
“As of the 22nd of January, Decrees 1, 2, 3 issued by former president George Manneh Weah brought to an end all operations of presidential appointees,” he explained. “It is being reported that in some districts, people are still acting as if they are still commissioners; people are acting as if they are still city mayors. If it is not happening in Nimba, it’s okay, but if it is happening as of where I sit, we bring that to a closure.”
Featured photo by Jerry Myers
