Construction Company Promises To Complete Job In 3 Months
By J. Peter S. Dennis, dennisrealone@gmail.com
GBARNGA, Liberia—Major renovation works have begun on the Bong County Superintendent’s compound in the central city of Gbarnga.
The compound was previously hit by a violent storm that de-roofed the entire building in March 2018.
Since then, the building has been abandoned due to its dilapidated condition.
A year later, the former administration headed by former Superintendent Esther Yamah Walker through a resolution by the delegates from the County Sitting approved ninety-nine thousand United States Dollars ($99,000.00 US) to renovate the compound.
Following that resolution, the amount was raised to one hundred forty nine thousand inclusive of the fencing project.
JEAMCCO INC., a local construction company was hired in the process to renovate but not much work was done by the company due to a reported “limited cash flow” from the then county administration, thus leading to a halt in the project since 2020.
Recently, the County Council, the body responsible for the management of the county’s funds and projects’ allocation, approved over 300 thousand USD for the Superintendent’s 100-day projects.
The Gbarnga administration building and the Superintendent’s Compound are inclusive. US $144,000 (One hundred forty-four thousand) was approved for the project.
JEAMCCO INC. services “were retained because they started the project and were previously hired by the former administration in doing the work. They have the blue print, and are knowledgeable about the contract” Bong County Development Officer, Sedike Kromah told journalists at a major tour of the compound and the Gbarnga Administration building.
Currently, these projects, approved by the County Council are being renovated.
Development Officer Kromah clarified that Success Construction and Engineering Company, a newly construction company was hired to fence the Gbarnga Administration Building.
He disclosed that the decision to continue with the same contractor was based on their agreement to pre-finance the project, ensuring continuity in the renovation process.
The two projects, he maintained, will be completed in the next three (3) months.
Upon completion, the Superintendent Compound will be fully fenced, different designs to suite contemporary era, electrified flower pot, among others.
“We’ve told the contractor to put in the necessary designs that we want. There will be no substandard material used. As you can see, the guys are doing the work from all over” Development Officer pointed out.
Bong County Superintendent Madam Hawa Norris during a recent Press Statement assured residents of the County of the fencing of both the superintendent compound and the Administration Building in her first hundred days deliverable.
Makeup of the funds
Beans cultivation across the 13 administrative districts of the county is also part of the US$302,913.36 budget approved by the council on July 1, 2024.
This is intended to promote agriculture development as promised across the county.
Mixed reactions from Citizens
The re-awarding of the projects to JEAMCCO INC has caused mix reaction among the populace with hailing the county’s leadership for maintaining the construction whom they believe didn’t receive much money to continue or complete the facility.
They openly appreciated President Joseph Nyumah Boakai for the appointment that they believe “is bringing light to Bong County through holistic development”.
Amid that, some also think the county’s administration should have investigated before re-awarding the contract to the company that they think “doesn’t have the capacity to complete”.
They also think the unilateral decision “doesn’t speak to accountability” as the leadership has promised.