By Shallon S. Gonlor
GOMPA CITY, Nimba County – Superintendent Kou Meapeh Gono has publicly defended her administration’s development plans and financial management, responding directly to two growing controversies: the contentious relocation of the Sanniquellie General Market and a formal request from Senator Samuel G. Kogar for an internal audit of the county’s finances.
In a media engagement held Thursday at Voice of Gompa following her return from Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, Gono stated her actions were “unapologetic” and “unequivocally clear,” maintaining that every decision has been lawful and approved by the county’s Nine-Man Council as mandated by the Local Government Act of 2018.
Audit Welcomed Amid Financial Transparency Concerns
In response to Senator Kogar’s call for an audit over alleged financial misapplication, Gono welcomed the review but noted that the senator had rarely attended county meetings. Referring to him as “my son traditionally—and a hard-headed one at that,” she emphasized that her administration has operated in full compliance with the law.
Nimba County receives US$1.5 million annually from ArcelorMittal Liberia’s County Social Development Fund (CSDF). Gono confirmed that an audit covering 2018–2023 is underway and will be released shortly, promising accountability for any irregularities.
Citizens and stakeholders continue to urge transparency, particularly regarding the management of development funds. The upcoming audit report is highly anticipated as a measure of the county’s commitment to accountable governance.
Market Relocation Sparks Dispute
The superintendent’s comments come after hundreds of marketeers, predominantly women, protested what they described as the illegal seizure of an 8-acre plot in Gono-lor Village. The land was purchased by the Liberia Marketing Association (LMA) Sanniquellie Chapter in 2021 for market relocation—a project for which former President George Weah had broken ground.
Gono dismissed the allegations as “politically motivated,” explaining that the current market location is unsafe and overcrowded. She confirmed plans to relocate the market to Sehyikimpa Town, offering a five-acre swap plus over US$200,000 in county resources to construct a modern market facility complete with offices, stores, and a daycare center.
“I am not going to allow a market at the county’s entrance,” Gono stated, referencing the original site near the checkpoint. She also announced plans to abolish the Friday and Saturday general markets and end street vending to reduce congestion and support tourism near Lake Teeleh.
As the county forges ahead with its development agenda, Superintendent Gono remains steadfast, urging residents to “learn from past incidents to support future developments.”
