Fuahmah, Bong County – The Liberian Investigator has uncovered suspicious discrepancies surrounding two donations allegedly made on behalf of the China Union iron ore mining concession operating in Fuahmah District, Lower Bong County. These donations, meant to fulfill China Union’s corporate social responsibility commitments to the host community of Bongmines, are raising serious questions.
The Liberian Investigator found that an unnamed vendor delivered assorted medical supplies to the Bongmines hospital. The donation was reportedly valued at US $20,000 as part of a procurement agreement with China Union. However, sources within the hospital suggest the donated items are worth no more than US $2,500—a stark difference that raises concerns.
Similarly, the same unidentified consultant also donated assorted stationery materials to the Bongmines Elementary School, allegedly on behalf of China Union. Our sources indicate the materials donated are valued at no more than US $2,000—well below the expected US $20,000 donation from the company.
Maclarance David, administrator of Bongmines Hospital, confirmed receiving a donation of assorted medical items from someone he described as an emissary of China Union. However, he declined to name the individual who made the donation on July 4, 2024.
David told the Liberian Investigator that the drugs were donated with a receipt or waybill, expressing gratitude for the gesture as the hospital is struggling to meet the medical needs of its catchment area. However, he acknowledged that he had no knowledge of the total monetary value of the donation.
He also noted that the hospital currently lacks a functional X-ray machine, coupled with declining infrastructure, as there has been no major renovation since the hospital was built in the 1960s.
Beatrice Kollie, Principal of the Bongmines Elementary School, another recipient of the purported US$20,000 donation, told the Liberian Investigator that assorted stationery materials were donated by a group of men claiming to work for China Union on July 3, 2024. She added that they brought the receipts for the materials three days later.
“They said the materials were valued at twenty thousand dollars, but honestly, looking at them, they can’t be worth that much. I had the receipts photocopied and gave them to the honorable representative’s office,” she explained.
In a communication dated August 6, 2024, Bong County Seventh District Representative Foday Fahnbulleh expressed appreciation to China Union for adhering to the House’s special joint committee recommendation to improve its corporate social responsibility to the host community. However, he noted with concern that the recent donations fell far below the stipulated amount.
“My office received communications on July 28, 2024, from the management teams of both Bongmines Hospital and Bongmines Central Elementary School. Both institutions reported that the medical and educational materials provided did not match the pronounced value of $20,000 each by the concessionaire. After their market assessment and cost analysis, they realized the materials received did not meet the expected cost mentioned by the vendor,” the communication stated.
Representative Fahnbulleh called on China Union management to ensure that the remaining value of the materials is delivered since the first donation didn’t meet expectations. He quoted the hospital administration’s valuation of the donation at US $2,362, while the school estimated the donation at US $1,926.
“In light of this shortfall, I am pleased to inform the management of the company that we look forward to receiving the balance worth of drugs—$17,638—and the balance worth of school materials—$18,074,” the communication continued.
When contacted, an official of China Union identified only as Allen confirmed the company’s donation of US $20,000 worth of medical supplies to the Bongmines hospital through a third party, whose identity he declined to reveal.
“I don’t have specific information about it since I’m not the PRO. All I know is that China Union can provide evidence of a $20,000 donation to Bongmines hospital,” he stated.
Despite Allen’s claim of evidence supporting the donation, he refused to name the third party supposedly hired by China Union, leaving key details surrounding the donations unresolved.
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