By Emmanuel Mafelah, mafelahemmanuel29@gmail.com
GBARNGA, Liberia- Some citizens in Bong county have condemned recent mayor elections in Gbercon, Tokpablee District, describing it as unconstitutional in the county.
In separate interviews, the citizens said that the process was unconstitutional and is in gross violation of the recent passed Local Government Act of 2018.
Even though the Local Government Act has been passed into law, calling for election of local leaders, Chapter 24(a) of the same law states that “ the election of Superintendents, county, city and township councils that depend on the amendment of the constitution, before it takes effect, shall be deemed suspended after the passage of the law.
The President of the Republic still has the power to appoint local leaders, according to article 54(d) of the 1986 revised constitution.
It can be recalled that the Tokpablee District Coordinator of the Friends of Tokpah, Goyomo Sirleaf, on Monday January 20, announced his victory in the purported city mayor election that was made possible by the support of Liberia’s Deputy Speaker Prince Moye and Senator Henrique Flomo Tokpah; a claim that the office of Senator Tokpah has confirmed.
Arron G. V. Juakollie, Executive Director of the Foundation for International Degnity (FIND) wondered why will Goyomo boasted of winning an illegal process.
The FIND Executive Director cited section 1.16 (j) of the Local Government Acts of 2018 which states that: “City Mayors and Commissioners of township and boroughs shall be appointed by the President of the Republic of Liberia with consent of the honorable Liberian Senate.”
He at the same time wondered why Senator Tokpa will support an illegal election in the Country when he (Senator Tokpa) was under his watch as Internal Affairs Minister the Local government Act was passed.
He termed the process as a De Facto that needs to be nullified to serve as precedence for other towns and villages across the country not to follow suit.
Mr. Juakollie however admonished residents of Bong County to petition their lawmakers to make necessary recommendation to President George Weah to appoint some of their brightest citizens instead of treading such illegal path.
When contacted to comment on the situation, Bong County Superintendent Esther Y. Walker said that she was not aware of any election conducted in Gbecon for the position of City Mayor.
She further said that there’s no city in Bong county call Gbecon City.
For his part, Kokoyah Statutory District Superintendent, Content Yallah also said he is not aware of any election and said that there’s no city in Bong county call Gbecon City.
Meanwhile, another citizen of this County, Thomas Menaly has expressed total disappointment in Senator Tokpa and his son, Deputy Speaker Moye for supporting what he called an unconstitutional process.
Mr. Menaly wants authorities of the County and the office of the President George M. Weah to investigate the matter.
Senator Tokpa, who is on record for saying that as a sitting Senator he has not read the Budget Law of the Country, which was greeted with miss- reaction in Bong County, has again reportedly been involved in Gbercon, Tokpablee District mayoral election.
But when contacted the National Media Consultant in the office of Deputy Speaker Moye, Mohammed Melvin Kwanah said at no time did his boss support such election in County.