Gbarnga, Bong County – A fifty thousand United States Dollars Library project meant for education has turned into a criminal and prostitution hideout in Gbarnga, Bong County.
Delegates from the November 2018 County Council sitting approved the project to enhance learning activities in the county.
The library is being constructed behind the Bong County Technical College in Gbarnga.
Earlier, former Vice President Madam Jewel Howard Taylor made a unique appeal to the Bong County Legislative Caucus and the local county administration seeking financial support for constructing a public library in Bong County, which will be replicated in other counties. Still, the project was personalized by electoral district #3 Representative Josiah Marvin Cole, although the County funded the project from the County Social Development account.
US$75,000 was earlier allotted for the project during the county council sitting, but US $50,000.00 was given to start the project.
The contract was awarded to Fah Architecture Design and Construction Company without an announced competitive bidding process, a violation of the Public Procurement Concession Commission Law of 2010.
Representative Cole is alleged to be linked to the company. Some county lawmakers are being accused of having shares in companies the county awards contracts to.
The project started at a snail’s pace after a year in 2020.
On Saturday, September 12th, 2022, Representative Josiah Marvin Cole reportedly ordered the remaining materials to be taken while at elevation level. Eldorado Kiamue, now Chief of Office Staff, and C. Tarwoe Walonfah accompanied the removal of the building materials in a rented pickup. The whereabouts are still unknown.
Before the removal, Rep. Josiah Marvin Cole told journalists in the County that the building needed three (3) months to solidify. A few months later, Representative Josiah Marvin Cole disclosed that “the project was underestimated. The 50k couldn’t complete the project.”
Many county residents have since accused him of using the materials to construct his radio station, Voice of Bong. His office hasn’t addressed this allegation.
Earlier, Representative Cole announced that former President George Manneh Weah donated two thousand (2,000) bags of cement for the project.
Since the halt, the lawmaker still owes some individuals hired to serve as securities and local cooks at the project site.
Our sources stated that the parties are claiming over US$1,940 in payment for 14 months, while the cooks are also claiming US$300 for an additional three months, totalling US$2,240.
Current condition
The facility has been used as a prostitution camp and a hub for major criminal activities in Gbarnga, Bong County since being halted in 2022.
The structure is also being used to support open defecation in the community.
Community dwellers, including local leaders, think the future of the controversial Library project is uncertain.
According to them, the lawmaker’s attitude of depriving them of their funds through the construction of a library is terrible.
“We don’t understand why our lawmaker is behaving in this matter. This is taxpayers’ money. Besides, delegates agreed upon this project during the 2018 County sitting. Why will he divert it?” they wondered.
They want immediate redress from the lawmaker to ensure library usage.
However, many advocacy groups in the county have threatened to sue the lawmaker if he doesn’t complete the facility.
“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 to use. Someone can’t come here and do something against our will—this Library project is the heartbeat of the county, considering the funds that were allotted for it. We have no other area to do research apart from here,” they told Journalists.
Meanwhile, the Bong County lawmaker who has been seen repeatedly personalizing the library project vowed to include it in the 2025 national budget to ensure completion, something far from reality.
It’s unclear when the project will re-commence as it’s already surrounded by grass.
The recent October 22-23, 2024, County Council Sitting didn’t capture the project as its completion lies in limbo.
Delegates at the two Sittings deliberated on a total budget of over 1.4 million United States Dollars.
By: J. Peter S. Dennis, Correspondent
