“We Will Not Vote, If Our Roads And Town Hall Are Not Constructed” Residents Of Gbeketa Alarm, But Current Rep. Ben Fofana Reacts
By Abraham K. Kollie, kollieabraham23@gmail.com
0770412341/0888542937
MARGIBI, Liberia- Residents of Gbeketa in Margibi County’s 4th electoral district have threatened to teach their leaders a political lesson begiing with the ongoing Biometric Voter Registration exercise.
They say they have criticized their leaders for what they call failing them, with some of the citizens threatening to boycott the ongoing BVR. Gbeketa is located in Rural Margibi with a population of nearly 2, 500.
The Town borders Bong County and its residents have outlined numerous challenges they face, ranging from poor roads, health care facilities, inadequate safe drinking water and schools.
According to Article 77 of the Liberian constitution “every Liberian citizen not less than 18 years of age, shall have the right to be registered as a voter and to vote in public elections and referenda under this Constitution.” And the new election law says citizens above 18 shall register to vote in the places they ordinarily reside.
At the same time, the youth chairperson of Gola-Town, Samuel Bondo has raised concern about the low turnout of the ongoing voter registration, giving the three weeks’ period giving for phase one of the Biometric Voter Registration, which includes Margibi, Montserrado, Bomi, Grand Bassa, Gbarpolu and Grand Cape Mount Counties.
In what is seen as a desperate demand, chairperson Bondo wants incumbent Ben A. Fofona and the Margibi Legislative Caucus to construct their roads and bridges before the BVR process comes to an end in Margibi County.
Mr. Bondo explained that elected officials in District#4 are normally paying key attention to the urban areas like Kakata, leaving the majority in the rural regions.
“Our children who we considered our future leaders are not benefiting from this government, doing the rainy season they no longer go to school because of the rivers, they are within walking distance just to have access to education while lawmakers are sending their children to private universities out of this country,” the Gola-Town chairperson said.
“We will not vote register until our roads and bridges are build built,” Mr. Bondo added.
Current Rep. Ben Fofana denies the claims
When contacted, Margibi County District #4 representative Ben A. Fofona denied the allegation and described it as being political.
He told reporters that he has visited Gbeketa on several occasions encouraging citizens to participate in the ongoing BVR process.
However, the communication director of the National Elections Commission (NEC), Henry Flomo has encouraged the Gbeketa residents to take advantage of the ongoing Biometric Voter Registration BVR process, adding that the voter registration cards are used for different purposes and it is a national document.
Mr. Flomo further referenced chapter 5.2. of the election rules and Procedures which states that “the NEC shall use the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) technology to register all qualified citizens of the Republic of Liberia and 5.2. A person must register at the voter registration center established for the locality where he or she ordinarily resides.”
The NEC Communications Director called all every Liberians to participate in the process and make an independent decision.
“We are encouraging our people to turn out a do their voter registration because the card is important as it qualified you to be a Liberian citizen,” Flomo added.