By Enoch Sandoe in Rivercess, Liberia
With Unity Party (UP) government less than two weeks in office, Civil Societies groups in Liberia’s southeastern Rivercess County have resolved to take their local government authorities to court to account for the use of the County Development Funds.
The groups reached the decision at a mass meeting held in Yarkpah Town near the provincial capital, Cestos city on Wednesday, after the County officials failed to report to the people.
They said this is their last resort since the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf government’s tenure was ending on January 22 this year and the County, the legal process was the best solution.
The civil society groups that resolved on court action are the Women United for Peace and Development, the Disabled community, Representatives of Chiefs and Elders, the District Development Committee (DDC), Rivercess Youth organization, Kpaingbo Incorporated, among others.
The Rivercess Chairman of the National Civil Society Council, George J. Trokon said the court will compel the local authorities to provide a comprehensive report on the way the County development funds were used.
They also want to know what happened to funds received from plank committees in the county.
Trokon told Journalists that “for over two years, the civil society groups have written series of letters to the County Superintendent, Matthew Zoegar Daniels and the Development Superintendent Madam Ruth Sawmadal report to citizens on the utilization of funds received from plank committees but all have fallen on death ears.”
The civil society groups’ decision to take the County officials to court was also prompted by the Superintendent’s announcement of his resignation before the December 26, 2017 presidential runoff election. Locals claim he has been living in the United States.
Earlier in January this year, a Civil Society Activist Charles Harrison Teah appeared on a local radio talk show in Rivercess, calling on the county authority to provide comprehensive reports on the county development funds.
Teah called on Senator Dallas A.V Gueh who is the Secretary of the Rivercess Legislative Caucus and former County Superintendent Wellington Geevon-Smith buttress to ensure that this happens.
But in a recent telephone conversation with Superintendent Daniels, he told reporters that he is not under obligation by law to account to the citizens outside County Council Sitting which the budget law calls for.
Since his appointment as Superintendent of RiverCess in 2014, Daniels has come under serious criticisms for allegedly mismanaging the county’s funds without any report to the citizens.
Following the December 9, 2015 County Council Sitting, it was disclosed that some US$1 million was allocated for development projects.
During her farewell visit to the County last year, President Sirleaf gave US$10,000 to carry out a project but nothing has been shown for that so far.