By D Abraham Cooper sr
March 28,2026
ZWEDRU, GRAND GEDEH – A deepening crisis of confidence has gripped Grand Gedeh County as citizens and local leaders demand immediate accountability over the suspected mismanagement of public funds earmarked for electrification.
The controversy erupted following a public unveiling by Representative Hon. Jeremiah Sokan of $200,000 USD worth of electrical materials intended to power 30 communities by the government of Liberia.
The weight or volume and quality of the government procurement have cast a harsh light on the County Local Authority, which recently withdrew $400,000 USD for a similar project that has yielded significantly fewer results.
Public frustration stems from a glaring disparity in value for money. While the Local Authority’s $400,000 initiative was restricted to just five communities, the inventory of materials delivered reportedly consisting of fewer than five 50 KVA transformers and 30 poles has been described by observers as grossly insufficient for the capital invested.
In contrast, Liberia government through LEC $200,000 USD contribution reportedly doubles the reach of the official government project at half the cost, leading taxpayers to question where the remainder of the public funds were diverted.
The discrepancy has forced the County Council into a rare position of public confrontation with the Local Authority.
During the official turnover ceremony for Sokan’s materials, Mr. Atilias A. Karr, Vice-Chair of the County Council, broke protocol to demand transparency.
”The County Council appreciates Rep. Sokan’s for exercising his overnight, but we now urge the Local Authority to provide a comprehensive account of the $400,000 expansion project,” Karr stated.
Karr further demanded the immediate release of the contractual agreement between the Local Authority and LIB-ENERGY, the firm contracted for the work.
This assertive stance marks a significant shift in the county’s political landscape.
For the first time, the County Council appears prepared to exercise its legal oversight functions aggressively, responding to a constituency that feels cheated by its administrators.
As the “state of dilemma” continues to brew among Grand Gedeans, pressure is mounting for a full audit of the electrification funds to determine how $400,000 in public money produced less than $200,000 in results.
