-Condemns FPA’s Publication
BY: Shallon S. Gonlor
GANTA, NIMBA COUNTY — Nimba County Superintendent and Chairperson of the Superintendent Council of Liberia has refuted Front Page Africa’s publication that she authorized the removal of scrap assets belonging to ArcelorMittal Liberia.
Supt. Kou Meapeh Gono claims that the allegations are politically driven, and the report is targeted to destroy her high-earned character and cordial relationship with the citizenry of the county.
During a major press conference held Monday, August 12 in Sanniquellie, Supt. Gono addressed allegations linking her involvement in a scrap deal that is reportedly fueling concerns among local leaders and citizens in the county.
Her prompt response was triggered by Front Page Africa’s controversial news, accusing her and Nimba County Electoral District # 8 Lawmaker, Saye Mianah of unlawfully removing metal scraps from the railway area.
On August 9, 2024, the Front Page Africa publication indicted the Nimba County Superintendent and Nimba County District 8 policymaker for instructing the removal of scraps. FPA publication caption “Investigation Unveils Illegal Removal of ArcelorMittal Scrap Assets by Nimba County Officials”, however, grabbed everyone’s attention.
The media report quoted community members as pointing accusing fingers at Superintendent Kou Meapeh Gono and District 8 Representative Saye Sylvester Mianah, claiming they are behind the unauthorized removal of the scrap.
The wild allegation has seen many twists and turns in the county, while others questioned the integrity and credibility of the superintendent who has gained praises for ongoing audit of past county leaderships to account for alleged corruption.
In response, Superintendent Gono rubbished the media report, terming the news as ‘trash and misleading’, and condemning the attack. She denied the accusations, explaining that the scraps were collected and intended to be donated to the county by AML.
She stressed that it is frustrating a credible media group like Front Page Africa will believe in reporting false and baseless news just for little or nothing. The Chairperson of the Superintendent Council of Liberia made sensational comments on the hand of Front Page Africa management team jointly with some individuals within the employ of AML.
Now the Supt. Gono had reacted to the allegations and rubbished them. She said that she is nowhere involved in the issue and she rubbished all the reports and rumors on her involvement. She denied it and clarified that the scraps were removed in line with the bidding law.
Superintendent Kou Meapeh Gono has said that even though funding from the sales has not been received by the County Administration, stressing that when received 70% will be used to benefit the affected communities while only 30% will go to the county authority.
She contended further that she has no involvement in this and all the claims that are coming her way are false. She noted that upon the donation, AML offered to undertake the procurement process for them, which they refused.
According to her, the county set up its procurement procedure in line with the Public Procurement and Concession Commission(PPCC), in which a bidder was chosen with the concern of the scraps committee.
She expressed disappointment in her accusers, who she claimed are in the habit of character assassination, linking her with dubious games. She said if she were corrupt, she would not have brought an auditor into the county.
However, in less than two months upon the appointment of Superintendent Meapeh Gono, she renovated or refurbished the superintendent’s compound to its pre-war status. She then purchased a brand new 4×4 vehicle, which some car dealers estimated the cost to be about US$60,000.
