Superintendent Kou Meapeh Gono Elected Chairperson of Superintendent Council in Liberia

Nimba County to Chair Superintendent Council First Time in 13 Years

Published: August 9, 2024

GANTA – Nimba County Superintendent Kou Meapeh Gono has been elected Chairperson of the Superintendent Council of Liberia, marking a significant moment for the county after a 13-year hiatus.

By S. Kannay Ziamo, Nimba County

Madam Gono was unanimously chosen by her peers—Superintendents from fourteen other counties—during the ongoing National Orientation Workshop of County Administrations and Elections of Leadership of the National Council of Chiefs, currently being held in Ganta, Nimba County. Her election was unopposed.

As Chairperson of the Superintendent Council, Madam Gono now leads a body comprising the Superintendents from Liberia’s fifteen political subdivisions. The Council serves as a platform for these regional leaders to collaborate, coordinate efforts, discuss policies, and advocate for local governance and development at the national level.

The role of the Chairperson is crucial, as it involves shaping and influencing policies that impact the counties, ensuring that local issues are addressed within the broader national administrative framework.

This latest election follows the 2019 leadership selection, where Grand Bassa County Superintendent Janjay Baikpeh emerged victorious. Superintendent Gono’s election marks a return of the leadership position to Nimba County, a position last held by a Nimba Superintendent in 2011 when Madam Edith Gongloe-Weh briefly served as Chairperson before her dismissal. Gongloe-Weh had sought a senatorial seat in the 2011 General and Presidential Elections.

Superintendent Gono, appointed in March and officially inducted on May 14, has already made significant strides in her role. She has committed to combating corruption within the county’s leadership by initiating a full-scale audit of the previous administration. Additionally, she has promised to foster more participatory governance through community engagement and to focus on developing the county’s infrastructure—efforts that have earned her strong support among Nimba’s citizens.