Say Their Votes Were Wasted, But Sen. Kpehe Reacts
PHOTO: Senator Johnny K. Kpehe
By J. Peter S. Dennis, dennisrealone@gmail.com
GBARNGA, Liberia–Several young people of Bong County have expressed serious disillusionment in the leadership of Senator Johnny K. Kpehe since his election in 2023.
Many have accused him of defaulting on his campaign promises while others believe it’s too early for judgment.
During the 2023 elections, Johnny vowed to make Bong County better- a promise that many have described as a complete lip-service and an act intended to “steal their votes”.
The Bong County residents further asserted that the senator earlier cajoled and swayed their votes thus leaving in anguish.
As they feel betrayed from an early stage of his nine years’ reign as a senator of Bong County, they have maintained their stance against him in any future political quest.
“I am very disappointed in him. We stood in the sun and rain for him, but we aren’t seeing what we voted him for. We denied others the vote based on our thinking that he was going to change the county for better” Elijah Tokpa, a youth of Foloblah in electoral district #2.
“We saw several ambulances and convoy everywhere he went with his photos, but these things are no longer seen in the county. If this is not BM, then I don’t know what is it; because we believed in him for the position. I am highly disappointed” Martin Kollie, a youth of Gbarnga expressed his frustration.
Amid that, some of his ardent supporters think Senator Kpehe isn’t a reconciler, but is a pretentious leader.
“You are not a reconciler. You want to fight but don’t know how to do it. You pretend to the public that you don’t want to fight but behind the scene, you want to bring your friend down. You are a little boy to Pharoah, despite I am not supporting him” Emmanuel Tamatai, a strong foot soldier to the senator repeatedly posted on is Facebook page.
“He is surrounded by non-innovative, drunkards, money eaters and people who are only running behind their guts” another supporter, Nukai Kpangbai wrote on his facebook page.
“My brother, my mouth full yaaaa, where are the ambulances? Where are the wranglers and 1000 cars? Where is the agricultural farm? Where is the fishery cool room that was established in Platota? All that VLAH…” Yarkeh Gongbo inquired.
“This man doesn’t even visit the county. Since he got there, there’s no report, no tangible development since his election. Nothing at all we can see from him. We are really disappointed in his leadership because he’s not governing us” Stephen Kpakolo, a youth of Gbarnga stated.
Johnny Kpehe, now the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Youth and Sports, paraded the streets with several vehicles including ambulances but they immediately vanished after his election in October 2023.
The mobile clinic or free distribution of drugs that was witnessed during the elections is now in thin air.
His office, through his Public Relation Officer, Joseph Armstrong Doloyuwah valiantly claimed “the convoy claim is frivolous because it has nothing to do with the development of the county”.
Senator Johnny Kpehe garnered a little over 78,000 votes to unseat Senator Dr. Henrique Flomo Tokpa in the 2023 elections, but it seems the table has turned in an early stage that these disillusionments are now in the public.
Like Emmanuel Tamatai, others thing if these promises aren’t timely addressed; it will dwindle his political ambition in 2032 or further.
Senator’s response
Mr. Kansualism Kansuah, the chairman of Friends of Johnny, a political group that strongly campaigned for his election in 2023 responded “Making Bong Better is a process. It starts with reconciliation. Conversations are held with leaders at different levels and said efforts will be manifested. Reconciliation at the leadership level is good but must be embraced by every citizens of Bong County.
Making Bong Better Conference concept paper is developed and will be discussed with leaders. After finalization we will proceed with implementation and actualization. Making Bong Better is not individualistic as perceived by you. It is an agenda for Bong County Citizens”.
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer in the Senator’s office, Joseph Armstrong Doloyuwah branded them in a messenger chat as “far-fetched” while terming these young people as beggars.
“These allegations are farfetched and have no iota of truth. Sen. Kpehe has not and will not abandon his responsibilities as a leader who came to power by a popular mandate. He is a reconciler and that is why he’s not at odds with any of his colleagues at the level of the caucus. On his campaign promises, of course the Senator is living up to his promises, school fees are been paid, jobs provided, roads are been rehabilitated and medical supplies donated to the county health team. This man was elected for nine years, and he’s not even gone a year in his tenure. Those spreading these allegations are a group of young people who believe that the Senator should always put money in their pockets”.
Journalist: What’s the status of the convoy that paraded the streets during the elections? Also, when will the hub construction take effect?
PRO: “How does long convoy impact the lives of our people? Long convoy claim is frivolous because it has nothing to do with the development of the county. On that ambulance hub, the county health team asked the Senator to delay the construction until certain technical details are settled”.
Journalist: When do we expect those technical issues to be resolved to watch the construction of the hub?
PRO: “It lies in the preview of the County Health Team”
Journalist: Are there plans about the agriculture farm (Bong feeding itself) as promised during the election?
PRO: “Certainly, but we do it one at a time!”
Meanwhile, Bong County Health Team Administrator, Mr. Sam T.G. Siakor acknowledged that the Bong County Health Team advised the Senator to construct sub-stations for ambulance across the county to quickly response to Reproductive and other health complicated issues rather than “having these ambulances in Gbarnga that will take a longer time to respond to other cases far from Gbarnga”.
“We embrace the idea for the construction of ambulance hub in gbarnga. We want for more people or patients to receive quick response upon the call of the ambulance. From Gbarnga to Rock Crusher is very far, from Gbarnga to Sanoyea is also far; so it will be better to construct one in Botota, Forquelleh, Sanoyea, and Fuamah so that these people or patients can be rightly responded to whilst in critical need”.
According to Sam, construction work will commence effective next year after submitting the new blueprint of the building to Senator Johnny Kpehe this December.