Citizens frown at ex-lawmaker’s action to turn Public Clinic into a rental apartment
By Shallon S. Gonlor
NIMBA COUNTY, Liberia – A health facility once touted as a community service has been quietly converted into a private revenue stream by its owner, former Nimba County District #2 Representative Prince O.S. Tokpah. The Prince O.S. Tokpah Clinic, which adjoined his private academy, now serves as rental housing for a corporate subcontractor, sparking outrage among students and citizens who label the move a “selfish” betrayal of public trust.
The conversion occurred after Tokpah lost his bid for a third term in the 2023 legislative elections. The clinic, which was intended to serve the healthcare needs of the community and students of his Prince O.S. Tokpah Academy, has been repurposed into residential units now occupied by MTS, a subcontractor for ArcelorMittal Liberia.
The move has left students at the academy feeling vulnerable and abandoned. “We’re students, and we’re not happy about this overnight decision,” said one student, who gave only her first name, Blessing. “It left us wondering where we will go for quick medical treatment if we fall ill during school hours. To make matters worse, none of the school’s vehicles are functional.”
Other students condemned the action, describing it as “unsaved” to their learning process. The decision has ignited broader condemnation from the community, with many residents asserting that the facility was built using public resources meant for their welfare. Elder Nyan Gono, a resident, voiced a common sentiment, stating, “He used our money, the people’s money, to construct the clinic. It would have been better to hand it over to the community to manage instead of renting it out.”
Gono and other citizens criticized the former lawmaker’s actions as “greedy” and advised him to seek community input on decisions that affect the public. The controversy raises pointed questions about the use of district development funds and the legacy of projects initiated by lawmakers once they leave office.
While the former lawmaker has shifted his focus to running his academy and his new rental venture, attempts to reach him for comment on the community’s allegations were unsuccessful.
Prince O.S. Tokpah served as the representative for Nimba County’s District #2 for 12 years before his electoral defeat.
