Rivercess County — Rivercess County Superintendent Byron Zahnwea has expressed frustration over a stay order issued by the Supreme Court, which has halted the prosecution of the Kpandu Construction Company over its alleged failure to complete the Jo River Bridge project in Bodowhea Town, Monweh Statutory District.
Speaking during the opening of the August A.D. 2026 Term of Court in Cestos City, Superintendent Zahnwea said the stay order has made it difficult for the county to pursue accountability in a case involving public funds and an incomplete infrastructure project.
He said Rivercess County’s remote location and limited financial resources make it particularly challenging to recover public funds from contractors who allegedly fail to complete projects after receiving payments.
According to Superintendent Zahnwea, some contractors allegedly take advantage of the county by receiving funds for projects but failing to complete the assigned work. He said when the county demands accountability, some contractors challenge authorities to take the matter to court.
Zahnwea said his administration has accepted that challenge and, through County Attorney Cllr. Martin M. Tumoe, is pursuing the Jo River Bridge case to its conclusion.
However, he expressed concern that the Supreme Court’s stay order has prevented the prosecution from proceeding. He therefore appealed to Associate Justice Yussif D. Kaba, who was present at the court opening, to help facilitate an early conference on the stay order.
In response, Justice Kaba instructed County Attorney Tumoe to visit his office at the Supreme Court for clarification on the stay order and the issues surrounding the case. He also advised Tumoe to contact the attorney handling the matter in Montserrado County so that the case could be properly raised before the Supreme Court.
The case centers on Kpandu Construction Company, which was contracted in 2023 to construct a 40-foot reinforced concrete bridge over the Jo River in Bodowhea Town. The project was reportedly valued at US$90,000, with the contractor receiving approximately 55 percent of the contract amount, while substantial portions of the work allegedly remained unfinished.
The company’s General Manager, Hammed L. Horton, was arrested in Monrovia on November 15, 2024, by court officers from the Cestos City Magisterial Court and subsequently taken to Rivercess County to face prosecution over the abandoned project.
The construction company reportedly demolished the old log bridge connecting Jo River Administrative District to other parts of lower Rivercess before abandoning the replacement project.
The Jo River Bridge case is among broader concerns raised over contractors who have received funding for public infrastructure projects in Rivercess County but allegedly failed to complete their contractual obligations.
County authorities say they remain committed to pursuing accountability and protecting public resources.
