By Shallon S. Gonlor |
Garplay Town, Nimba County – Nimba County’s District #4 Representative, Hon. Ernest Manseah, marked his first year in office with a detailed legislative report to constituents on Sunday, spotlighting achievements in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and transparency. Addressing a gathering of youth leaders, women’s groups, and local authorities in Garplay Town, Manseah underscored his commitment to “restoring hope” through targeted development and accountability.
Presenting his report on Sunday in Garplay Town, Rep. Manseah stated that during the reporting period, there were some gains and challenges. The Nimba County District 4 Lawmakers legislative report highlights his legislative and developmental performance review in the first year of his stewarship in the 55th Legislature after ascending to the post effective January 2024.
Rep. Manseah disclosed that in fulfillment of his political manifestos, he has made several achievements and kickstarted ongoing initiatives aimed at youth and women empowerment, infrastructure development, and transparency.
We gather here today in fulfillment of our statutory mandate to report and inform you of activities of our stewardship both within and out of the district. As such, the document before you represents details of the full activities of our first year since we became elected covering the period of January 2024 to January 2025 and January to March 2025, which represents the first quarter of our second year, he said.
He mentioned that during the period under review, his office in consultation with his constituents constructed several tangible projects in the district.
Manseah emphasized the significant progress made with support from the people of his district, and the Vice President of the Republic of Liberia, Jeremiah Kpan Koung, despite the lack of direct government funding for district projects in his first year, reconfirming that the trust reposed in him to serve is an opportunity, as such, he remains committed to in the spirit of coordination with local authorities in dealing with prevailing problems confronting the district and its people.
“I am deeply honored to stand before you on this momentous occasion to extend my heartfelt thanks and sincere appreciation to you, the people of District #4 for the usual support to our leadership. Your trust placed in us to serve as your leaders is a great opportunity for District #4 and we are committed to working together in the spirit of coordination with our local authorities in dealing with the problems confronting the district in order to find amicable solutions, the Nimba District #4 policymaker stated.
Further speaking, he noted that his election as representative during the 2023 among several candidates, including incumbent Representative Gonpu L. Kargon represents a milestone based on his collective efforts and unwavering dedication to uniting people and bringing the required and most needed development to the people.
As a third lawmaker, Rep. Meanseah becomes the first ever representative to report to his employers; a step that supports accountability and responsible leadership.
Background and Historicity of Nimba County District #4:
Since the creation of the district in 2009 as a result of the 2008 National Population and Housing Census, it was named after the Twah-River Administrative District with its headquarters in Garplay Town. It is one of the newest districts in Liberia, but large in size and population with progressing developments. The district comprises three (3) administrative districts, six (6) chiefdoms, twelve 12 clans, twenty-six zones, and about seventy-five (75) towns and villages.
After its creation as an electoral district, the Nimba County District 4 has had three different representatives including, Garrison Yealue and Gonpu L. Kargon as well as incumbent Representative Ernest Manseah.
The actual population is projected at more than 100,000 people striving for a strategic and genuine development plan to match with modern-day reality. The district hosts two agricultural districts, two health districts, and two educational districts.
Addressing his constituents, Rep. Manseah highlighted that he came to the position after observing a series of challenges facing the district, including road infrastructure, access to healthcare, sanitation, limited or no financial aid for young people in pursuit of higher education, lack of resources to empower youth and women, and agriculture.
He also took notes of the insufficiency of government-paid teachers and health workers in most of the schools and health facilities within the district and its surroundings.
“In the midst of these challenges, our district presents a very high potential to play a pivotal role in revenue mobilizations for the growth and development of this nation if the necessary steps are taken, he said.
The Nimba District 4 youthful lawmaker asserted that being cognizant of the challenges facing his people, he has a clear vision and practical way to alleviate issues that impede the district’s growth and development.
“We want to assure you that our leadership does not intend to shy away from its responsibility but will rather bind every effort in bringing the necessary development and growth to you through persistent advocacy, transparency, accountability, and genuine representation while at the same time, nurturing peace and reconciliation through collective efforts. We want to say to you here today; that we have come to restore the lost hope of the district, Rep. Manseah noted.
He vowed not to misuse the opportunity to work in the Liberian National Legislature as a lawmaker, noting he has not gone to seek personal interest but to advocate for the good of the people of his noble district.
Following his election, Rep. Manseah serves as a member of the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment, Committee on Labor, and Committee on Hydrocarbon. Presently, he is Chairman of the House Committee on Public Works and Rural Development.
Highlights of the report
Legislative Oversight: As part of his legislative oversight, he has put forth the following communications to the Plenary:
Communication to the Plenary to invite the Minister of Finance to provide an update on the status of the road project from Sanniquellie to Loguatuo;
Communication to the Plenary to mandate the Ministry of Labor to review the credentials of expatriates working in the concession areas in Liberia;
Communication to invite LPRA, NOCAL, and LPRC to provide the status of the hydrocarbon sector Communication to invite the Minister of Internal Affairs to give the status of local government officials’ payroll;
Communication to plenary to probe into the conflict within the Methodist Churches and;
Communication to invite the Director of the CSA and the Minister of Finance to explain how the 28000 Civil Servants salary increment announced by the government in December affected various sectors of government.
Detailing his report, Rep. Manseah revealed that in consultation with various stakeholders, he has made substantial strive in the first year of his leadership, affecting the following sectors as key priorities, including Peace & Reconciliation, Education, Women and Youth Empowerment, Infrastructure and Road Connectivity, Health, Water & Sanitation, Agriculture, and Security.
He said, that in addition to these infrastructural developments and initiatives in the educational sector, his office has made strenuous efforts in providing financial aid and scholarship opportunities both locally and internationally.
”Up to date, we are proud to inform you that my office is currently sponsoring fourteen (14) students in Rwanda, and over three hundred fifty (350) students from the district have benefited over 2,500,000 (Two million Five Hundred Thousand Liberian Dollars) in financial aids across various colleges and universities in Liberia as well as an unspecified number of assistance to students at the grade levels for the past two semesters, Rep. Manseah disclosed.
In addition to these students, he noted that he had made some personal contributions to students traveling to other countries like India and Uganda in the tone of over 2000 USD.
For the Local- Financial Aid/Scholarship, he said about Two hundred Sixty-Five (265) students from the district have officially benefited from financial aid from the office and the total money spent is about USD 9,885 / $1,927,575LRD for the past year at various colleges and universities in Liberia.
He further disclosed that as part of his legislative oversight, several community clinic projects in the district including the Kosein Clinic, Payee Clinic, Soe Senlay Clinic, Sroh Yoolar Clinic, Behplay and Beo Bongarplay Clinic Projects have been completed and turned over to the Nimba County Health Team. “During our meeting with the team, we stressed the need for the government to come in and take over those projects to have them opened, he stated.
“In continuation of our efforts to improve the health sector in the district, we donated 150,000LD for the roofing of the Kpairplay Clinic Maternal Waiting Home and we are currently constructing a modern health facility in Sergeant Town that once completed, will provide affordable services to the people in Sergeant Town and its surrounding villages. We have also been in discussion with Livingwater Group to help a few communities within the district with boreholes. This discussion has been very promising and we hope that this will happen very soon.”
In conclusion, he said while he continues to lobby for funding for these projects, his office remains grateful and engaged with the office of the Hon Vice President and the Central Government in bringing the required developmental intervention to the district and his people.
