Published: June 18, 2025
GBARNGA, Bong County — Bong County Superintendent Hawa Norris has attributed a recent protest against her administration to what she described as misinformation and a lack of proper communication with the public.
Speaking during a one-day workshop organized by Naymote in Gbarnga, Norris said the demonstrators—members of the Unity Party’s youth wing—acted based on inaccurate claims regarding her leadership.
“Information dissemination is a major challenge,” she said. “Providing information in the wrong way has the propensity to trigger chaos.”
Last week, a group of disgruntled Unity Party partisans blocked the entrance to Norris’s office, demanding her immediate resignation. The protesters accused her of marginalizing party loyalists by appointing individuals affiliated with opposition parties to key county positions.
The group described her actions as a betrayal of the grassroots campaigners who, they said, played a vital role in securing the Unity Party’s 2023 election victory.
In response, Norris reaffirmed her commitment to inclusive, transparent, and accountable leadership. She emphasized that those appointed to public office are qualified and must not bow to political pressure in the performance of their duties.
“When you are appointed by government, you must work for the people, not the government,” Norris said. “You should be sincere and provide information to the people—not just your employer.”
Norris’s appointment by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai was reportedly met with resistance from Senator Prince Moye and other influential Unity Party figures, who claimed she did not play an active role in the 2023 campaign. Despite the criticism, Norris warned against allowing political favoritism to overshadow the broader needs of citizens, arguing that such practices undermine good governance.
While calls for job creation continue to rise under the Unity Party-led government—just as they did during the tenure of the Coalition for Democratic Change—debates about merit versus political loyalty remain widespread.
Many believe that those who supported the campaign efforts of a winning party should be prioritized for government employment. Others argue that the government cannot absorb every job seeker but should instead focus on creating an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive and help reduce unemployment.
At the same time, frustration persists among those who feel that individuals with no history of political involvement are being rewarded with positions, while long-time party activists remain overlooked.
President Boakai, who campaigned on a promise to deliver competent, transparent governance, has come under criticism for reportedly appointing individuals perceived as unqualified or selected due to personal loyalty rather than merit.
Several of his appointments—especially to tenure positions—have sparked public debate. While some officials have been suspended for alleged misconduct, others believed to be close allies or partisan loyalists have been named as replacements, fueling concerns about cronyism and political patronage.
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