– Sup. Kou M. Gono initials massive renovation, residents commend her
BY: Shallon S.Gonlor
NIMBA COUNTY — After lying in ruins for barely 20 years, Nimba County Superintendent Compound in Sanniquellie City has entered a new era due to massive renovations, as citizens heaped praises on the county’s new Superintendent, Kou Meapeh Gono for the ongoing renovation works.
Fresh air blows through the Superintendent Compound, as passersby, citizens, and residents of Nimba County commend the progressive female superintendent, for the startup’s astonishing job.
Sup. Kou Meapeh Gono, a daughter of the county who many earlier claimed a stranger based on her stay in the U.S. continued to be greeted with thanks and praises coming from citizens all in streets and corners of Sanniquellie City, Nimba County’s capital since news and resumption of the abandoned and deserted superintendent compound building’s renovation works began weeks ago.
Residents comprising of women, men, youths, students, chiefs and elders, and marketers have lauded the female superintendent for the unbelievable job, giving the historic compound which served as the AU birthplace an admirable facelift after years of neglect.
The building is the official residence of the Nimba County Superintendent and in time memorial hosted other national and international guests and government officials including the president of the state visited the county.
Some residents told WomenVoices Correspondent in the county that the status of the building years ago brought untold embarrassment, and disgrace to the county, leaving it as a ghost camp.
Others said the compound, which earlier hosted three African leaders has not been able to host any guests coming to the county because of the condition, and poor sanitation of the building due to past superintendents’ bad leadership and selfishness.
WomenVoices paraded the premises of the compound, as the ongoing maintenance work of the building that was not in good condition covered water leaking from the roof, floor tile, and the lack of electricity among others.
The building is a center for tourists, where the process that led to the formation and signing of the then Organization of African Unity (OAU), now African Union (AU), took place in 1959 with Guinean President Ahmed Sekou Toure, Liberian President William V.S. Tubman and Dr. Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana.
The renovation jobs when completed, according to the citizens deserve a celebration to commemorate, empower, and bestow honor on Superintendent Gono for the startup development initiative.
WomenVoices got a clear view of the facility on Monday, viewed it as a beautiful structure to host visitors from across the world, and is thrilled that the female superintendent will demonstrate exceptionally to effect change in leadership through numerous development initiatives.
It can be recalled that the former Nimba County Superintendent, Fong G. Zuagele leased out a portion of the superintendent’s compound to a local businessman to operate as an entertainment center, ghetto, and motel.
Zuagele unilaterally decided to lease the facility as head of the Nimba County Administration as his decision prompted concerns from citizens and some county officials about the facility being potentially misused.
Nimba County Superintendent’s Compound has lied in ruins barely 20 years after it was built, part of the building was been used as a ghetto for hardened criminals, while some senior citizens in authority use the building as a motel for sexual activities, according to concerned youths who spoke to WomenVoices County Correspondent.
Marian Quoi, a youngster of Nimba County living in Sanniquellie thanked Superintendent Kou Meapeh Gono on behalf of the youths for an exceptional leadership role in providing support and implementation of funds for the renovations, noting that others who served in the same capacity years back failed to do same.
The County Field Staff of anti-graph CENTAL termed a high level of transparency, integrity, and accountability demonstrated by Superintendent Gono to implement public funds for the intended purpose, stressing support for the led-renovation initiative aims to empower the communities and put citizens in the driving seat for fairness in public space.
Ms. Quoi commended Nimba’s Superintendent for handling the ongoing renovation of the superintendent’s residence, stating how she has shown commitment to the vision of the county’s development. She further expressed confidence that the renovation works when fully completed will boost the beautification of the compound and Sanniquellie City.
Speaking on the quality of the renovation projects, Marian Quoi said there is an assurance that a new, decent, and environmentally friendly is possible as it would showcase restoring the historic OAU now African Unity (AU) birthplace.
28-year-old George Tokpah, also said the work being done at the facility represents “renewal of hope” for the people of Nimba County.
He thanked the county’s newly confirmed superintendent who had tirelessly worked to bring the abandoned compound to a dwelling place.
In related news, on Monday, 13 May 2024 Nimba’s Superintendent Kou Meapeh Gono will be sworn in as Superintendent after her appointment and subsequent confirmation by the Liberian Senate.
The ceremony, scheduled to take place in the Tubman Hall in Sanniquellie City, will officially mark the start of a six-year term in office for Sup. Gono.
The ceremony is expected to be attended by government officials of lines, ministries, and agencies, the Nimba Legislative Caucus, women groups, youths, students, chiefs and elders, marketers, prominent sons and daughters of Nimba County, mask dancers, and the media.
