BY: Shallon S. Gonlor |
shallonsgonlor@gmail.com
NIMBA COUNTY, Liberia — County Education Officer (CEO) Francis G. Leagay has announced plans to audit his predecessor, Moses Dologbay, and former members of the Nimba County Education Board over allegations of mishandling L$11 million allocated for the stalled ‘Education Guesthouse’ project in Sanniquellie.
Leagay’s decision follows concerns over the project’s abandonment, with no visible progress despite significant funds being allocated. “We need transparency and accountability,” Leagay emphasized, adding that the audit aims to shed light on how the funds were utilized and identify those responsible.
The ‘Education Guesthouse’ project, intended to support local education initiatives, has been a point of contention among citizens and stakeholders in Nimba County.
The ‘Education Guesthouse’ project, launched in 2018, was envisioned as a cutting-edge hub for educational events and accommodations for educational stakeholders across the nation.
However, for seven years now the unfinished structure is a symbol of broken promises as locals and students are up in arms, demanding answers and accountability about the missing L$11 million.
The funds were forcefully collected from students through struggling parents, and now the abandoned building is a hotspot for crime, with reports of a damaged roof and snake infestations.
The guesthouse, nestled in the Nimba County School System’s Administrative Compound, was meant to be a flagship facility – 15 rooms, a conference hall, and internet services, but now it is hidden behind a jungle of overgrown grass. Students were asked to contribute L$150 yearly.
CEO Leagay’s administration is pushing for accountability as he seeks to revive the project and ensure funds are used effectively.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday at his office, CEO Francis Leagay declared war on corruption, promising prosecution for those responsible for the stalled project if the audit finds them guilty.
“We will follow the law, and if they are accountable, they will face the law,” he said.
Leagay claimed he inherited a mess with no documents or progress reports on the stalled project. He expressed his determination to get answers from his predecessor, Moses Dologbay, and to make things right.
Leagay said he is still waiting for documents on the project. “I haven’t seen a single paper about this project since I took over,” he said, appealing for cooperation from the previous administration. He is hoping that Moses Dologbay’s team will come forward with a framework to revive the guesthouse project.
According to Leagay, leadership is about integrity and legacy. “What we do now as leaders is like borrowing a court. You wear it, then you pass it on,” stating that turning over power should not be a fight.
He expressed anger over the lack of handover notes from his predecessor, calling it a deliberate refusal to cooperate, thus posing challenges to his fresh administration.
CEO Leagay expressed frustration, stating, “I am still in the dark about this project. I haven’t received any comprehensive report from former CEO Moses Dologbay to highlight major developments or milestones achieved during his tenure. Not even a blueprint of the project has been shared with me.”
Leagay revealed that he is going to work closely with Nimba County Superintendent Kou Meapeh Gono, the Ministry of Education, and local education stakeholders to pressure Dologbay into submitting a detailed report, saying, “We want transparency and accountability in public service. The people of Nimba deserve to know how their resources were utilized.”
He emphasized further his plans to collaborate with Superintendent Gono to secure funding for the education sector and revive the stalled guesthouse project. “We will invite the contractor who started the project to share the blueprint, and we will work together to get things moving again,” he said.
Leagay expressed optimism about mobilizing resources and support to resume work on the proposed ‘Education Guesthouse’ project. “We can liaise with Superintendent Gono and other stakeholders to explore ways to complete this project. As educators, we’re planners – we will strategize with the school board, engage parents, and find practical solutions.”
In a call to action, Leagay urged public servants and citizens to shift their mindset when allowed to serve the public. “Our country’s progress is suffering because we have been prioritizing personal gain over collective development. It’s time to change that narrative. We must take ownership of our public spaces and reject corruption.”
He added passionately, “Liberia is our home – we were born here, and we will stay here. Nobody else can develop our country for us. It’s time we start working together to build a better Liberia.”
