An investigation by Verity News has uncovered the alleged misuse of more than US$60,000 disbursed in 2016 for the construction of a clinic in Deabo Parken, River Gee County. A 2022 monitoring report by the National Benefit Sharing Trust (NBST) Board found the project incomplete and significantly smaller than approved.
According to NBST officials familiar with the matter, the funds—totaling US$62,463.31-were released to the Community Forestry Development Committee (CFDC) for the construction of a full clinic, based on a proposal that reportedly met Ministry of Health requirements at the time.
However, during a site inspection conducted in May 2022, the NBST monitoring team observed that the structure was “nowhere near completion” nearly six years after the funds were disbursed. The team also noted that the building was substantially smaller than the government-approved clinic design.
An NBST official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the investigation, said the discrepancies raised immediate concerns.
“What we saw on the ground did not correspond with what was approved and funded. The scale of the structure alone suggested a major deviation from the original project,” the official said.
Conflicting Claims over Project Change
When questioned during the monitoring visit, CFDC representatives reportedly told the NBST team that the project had been downgraded from a clinic to a health post following a recommendation from the County Health Team (CHT) of River Gee County.
According to CFDC officials, the alleged recommendation was based on population considerations and Ministry of Health standards.
To verify this claim, the NBST Board formally wrote to the County Health Team seeking clarification.
In an email exchange reviewed by Verity News, the Board asked whether the CHT had approved the original clinic project and whether it later advised a change to a health post.
In its response, the County Health Team categorically denied making any such recommendation.
Dr. Trion T. Washington, County Health Officer of River Gee County, stated in an official email that the CHT provided the community with a Ministry of Health–approved clinic blueprint and encouraged strict adherence to that design.
“At no time did the County Health Team meet with the CFDC chairman or recommend the construction of a health post instead of a clinic,” Dr. Washington wrote. He added that the amount disbursed was “more than sufficient to construct a health center, not to mention a clinic.”
The CHT further indicated that it was not aware the CFDC had received more than US$60,000 for the project and said no further engagement occurred after the initial discussions.
“There is no justification for this,” the email stated, urging the NBST Board to conduct due diligence and ensure accountability.
Silence from CFDC
Following the CHT’s response, the NBST Board contacted CFDC Chairman George P. Desuah, forwarding the County Health Team’s position and requesting clarification. According to NBST officials, the CFDC did not respond to the follow-up communication.
Multiple attempts by this newspaper to reach CFDC representatives for comment were unsuccessful as of press time.
A governance analyst familiar with community forestry projects, who requested anonymity, said the case highlights long-standing weaknesses in project oversight.
“When projects are delayed for years, downsized without approval, and basic documentation cannot be reconciled, it raises red flags that warrant a thorough investigation,” the analyst said.
In its correspondence, the County Health Team urged the NBST Board to fully investigate the matter and ensure that those responsible are held accountable, stressing its interest in the outcome of any inquiry.
The NBST has not publicly disclosed whether the case has been referred to law enforcement or anti-corruption authorities. However, sources within the institution say the findings form part of broader concerns surrounding the management of community forestry benefit-sharing funds.
As Liberia continues to rely on benefit-sharing mechanisms to deliver development at the community level, the unresolved Deabo Parken clinic project underscores the risks posed by weak oversight-and the human cost when promised health infrastructure fails to materialize.
