That Sparked Debate Among Citizens
By Emmanuel Koffa
GRAND KRU COUNTY, Liberia — A fresh controversy has erupted here in the southeastern Grand Kru County, following corruption allegations leveled against the County Superintendent Antoinette Wowlee Nimely by popular political activist Thomas Blamo, but the Superintendent has strongly denied the claims.
Mr. Blamo, a local in Forpoh Parluken, has accused Superintendent Nimely of alleged corrupt practices, including the mismanagement of public funds reportedly intended for county development initiatives and support to vulnerable groups.
According to him, Grand Kru County continues to face serious challenges such as the lack of safe drinking water and deteriorating youth facilities, which he attributed to poor leadership and alleged financial mismanagement.
But in her reaction to the corruption allegations, Superintendent Antoinette Nimely dismissed the claims against her, describing them as baseless and rooted in a misunderstanding of how county development funds are administered.
“I read it, but I don’t know where the US$50,000 came from,” the superintendent said. “I don’t even personally have access to such money, so I don’t know how I would take it,” the Grand Kru County Superintendent said.
Central to Blamo’s accusations is an alleged US$50,000 said to have been provided to the county administration for development purposes.
He further raised concerns about funds reportedly allocated for persons with disabilities, questioning how such resources were utilized and calling on the superintendent to account for her stewardship since assuming office.
Mr. Blamo argued that the persistent underdevelopment in the county stands in contrast to progress recorded in other parts of the country, insisting that public officials must be held accountable for the management of resources meant to improve citizens’ lives.
However, addressing the claim made about funds for persons with disabilities, Superintendent Nimely explained that such resources are accessed through established procedures and documentation, and are not under her personal control.
“The disabled people know the documents they are supposed to submit, and you know exactly what to do to access the money. Even I cannot personally access that money,” she stated.
The Superintendent also clarified that Grand Kru County operates solely under the County Development Fund (CDF) and does not benefit from the Social Development Fund (SDF) available in some other counties.
According to her, the county’s CDF allocation amounts to US$186,000, which she said is limited in addressing the county’s numerous development needs.
Superintendent Nimely further explained that CDF resources are disbursed only after a competitive bidding process, with funds paid directly to contractors based on approved contracts and specified allocations.
“We have to put up a bid for contractors to win before any money is disbursed, and that money goes to the contractor according to the contract. No one has access to that money,” she emphasized.
Reacting strongly to the allegations, the superintendent described the claims as ill-informed, stating that anyone familiar with the CDF process would understand that funds cannot be easily accessed or misused.
Despite the Superintendent’s denial, Mr. Blamo and other concerned Grand Kru County citizens maintain that transparency and accountability remain critical, especially given the county’s ongoing development challenges.
They continue to call for clearer public disclosure of county finances and development outcomes.
However, as of the time of this report, the corruption allegations have not been independently investigated or verified.