PHOTO: L-R, Delta Human Rights Foundation boss, Mr. Cole and Sen. Moye
By Emmanuel Mafelah, mafelahemmanuel29@gmail.com
GBARNGA, Liberia-A Human Rights Activist, Jesse B. Cole says he’s disappointed in Bong County Senator, Prince Kermue Moye’s recent decision to recommend two senior members of his 2020 campaign team to be employed by MNG Gold Mining Company in Kokoyah Statutory District.
He said the Lawmaker was in error and need to rethink, adding that the Bong County Senator’s action is a contradiction to campaign promise made to people of the district.
While campaigning last year, Sen. Moye said it was wrong for politicians of the county to recommend people to work with MNG Gold, when the company is not living up to its social responsibilities to citizens, vowing to scrutinize the MoU when elected senator for the betterment of residents of affected communities.
But contrary to his promise, the Lawmaker is making use of the same MoU he criticized former Senator Henry W. Yallh of by recommending two senior members of his 2020 campaign team, Uriah Bahn and Mark Gbeken to work with the mining company as public relations officer and community liaison officer.
The former Bong County’s District #2 Representative and now senator reliance for recommending the two names to work with the company is the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which he once criticized former Henry W. Yallah of not being in the interest of the people of Kokoyah.
He said: “Recommending people to MNG Gold when there are issues that the company is not doing especially leaving what the people want is not only bad to the same people who elected you, but a conflict of interest.
I have listened to the many cries of my people regarding the MoU and if elected I’m going to effect the needed changes that will benefit the district and bring the necessary changes”.
The Delta Human Rights Foundation boss told journalists that it is disappointing for Senator Moye to keep doing some of the things he once spoke against few months ago while campaigning for the position of senate.
But now, Sen. Moye has told citizens of the County that he had no other options but to do what the MoU says.
“Where is the change that you promised us the people of Bong County?” rights activist Cole has asked.
“You said that you were going to stand for the truth nothing but the truth, but today the story have changed. We need to be serious as a county, these guys are not treating us fairly,” Mr. Cole said.
The Senator’s decision, according to Mr. Cole, is a clear indication that he (Moye) is not in the interest of the people of Kokoyah district and Bong County at large.
Mr. Cole believes that the MNG Gold Company will continue to exploit residents of the district because leaders of the County are not sincere to the citizens.
“We can’t keep doing the same thing over and over and than you expect different result, it’s not possible. This Company is getting more from us and in return we are getting little or nothing as a county,” the Bong County human rights activist said.
Despite the presence of the multi-million dollar company in the County, inhabitants in the district live in poverty, the human rights activist pointed out.
Based on the Bong County Senator’s recommendation, the company has employed Gbeken as its new public relations officer, replacing Lloyd Ngwayah, who was recommended by former Bong County senator Yallah.
Section 1 (d) of the MoU calls for the senator of Bong County to recommend a public relations officer and a community liaison officer to work with the company.