Gbarnga, Bong County – Residents of Bong County are urging Electoral District #3 Representative Josiah Marvin Cole to complete the $50,000 library project he initiated in Gbarnga, which has been abandoned and has become a hideout for criminals in the Gboveh Hill Community.
The project, intended to enhance students’ learning activities, was approved during the November 2018 County Council Sitting. The library, located behind the Bong County Technical College, has remained incomplete for years, leaving many residents frustrated.
In 2019, former Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor made a public appeal to the Bong County Legislative Caucus and local authorities for financial support to build a public library in the county, with hopes of replicating the initiative in other counties. Despite this, the project was later taken over by Representative Cole, funded by the County Social Development account.
Citizens expressed dissatisfaction over the state of the project. James Kolleh, a resident of Gboveh Hill Community, voiced frustration over the prolonged delay.
“We don’t understand why Rep. Cole is dragging his feet to complete this project. This is taxpayers’ money. If he doesn’t finish it, we will tear it down because criminals are using it to steal from us,” Kolleh stated.
He continued, “Hon. Josiah Marvin Cole can’t treat us like this! He is playing with taxpayers’ money. He should complete the project and turn it over to us for use.”
Kolleh also recalled that during the groundbreaking ceremony, Representative Cole announced a donation of 2,000 bags of cement from then-President George Manneh Weah to support the project. However, despite this contribution, the project remains unfinished.
The community believes completing the library would significantly benefit students in their research efforts and reduce high failure rates in national exams. Residents argue that improved access to educational resources is vital for the county’s future, particularly as Bong County serves as a central hub.
Representative’s Office Responds
Eldorado V. Keamue, Chief of Office Staff for Representative Cole, responded to the concerns, stating that the lawmaker is committed to completing the library and other projects in the district.
Keamue emphasized, “The lawmaker is dedicated to improving the lives of Bong County residents. Plans are underway to complete the library, particularly to support students’ learning.”
However, Keamue accused Senator Prince Kermue Moye, Chairman of the Senate Ways, Means, and Finance Committee, of reallocating funds meant for development projects in Electoral District #3. He specifically referenced a recent radio appearance in which Senator Moye allegedly claimed there was no school project in David-Ta, Electoral District #4. Keamue countered this, asserting that an incomplete school project does exist in the area.
Keamue also revealed that Representative Cole is lobbying with international partners to secure funding for incomplete projects in the district. He accused Senator Moye and the Unity Party-led government of undermining development efforts in District #3.
A Community in Waiting
Residents view the library as a crucial tool for academic success and are hopeful that their calls for action will yield results. They stress the importance of the library project to the community’s educational development.
Despite the growing concerns, the project remains stalled, surrounded by overgrown grass. The issue was notably absent from the recent County Council Sitting held on October 22–23, 2024.
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