By Stephanie M. Duncan
Nimba County Superintendent Kou Meapeh Gono has defended her administration’s decision to disburse approximately US$10,000 to members of the Nimba Legislative Caucus, insisting the payments were lawful, transparent, and approved under the county’s budget, amid growing public criticism and allegations of political favoritism.
Speaking Thursday on the OK Morning Rush radio program, Superintendent Gono rejected claims that the funds amounted to bribes or politically motivated payments, explaining that the money came from a budget line item titled “Legislative Engagements,” which she said was approved by the Nimba County Council.
“There is nothing clandestine about this. These are legal transactions consistent with the law and approved by the Nimba County Council,” Gono said.
According to the superintendent, the allocation is intended to support lawmakers in carrying out their legislative oversight responsibilities by enabling them to travel throughout Nimba County, inspect development projects, engage with constituents, gather community feedback, and strengthen governance.
“We are a big county by landmass,” she said. “Our lawmakers come to the county, visit development projects, meet with their constituents, receive feedback, and improve governance. That is exactly what this allocation is for.”
Responding to concerns over the timing of the payments during the ongoing district league tournament, Gono dismissed suggestions that the funds were intended to influence political activities surrounding the competition.
“If you check with the Ministry of Finance, they will tell you Nimba just received its funding less than a month ago,” she said, adding that several counties are still awaiting their allotments. “So, if the payments coincide with the district league, that is merely a coincidence.”
Gono further emphasized that legislative engagement funding is not a new initiative, noting that similar allocations have previously been approved by the County Council.
She said the controversy escalated after Representative Musa Hassan Bility publicly disclosed that he had used part of his allocation to support his district team participating in the district league tournament.
The superintendent also revealed that Representative Bility had earlier requested county funding specifically for the district league, but the request was denied because the county’s budget had already been approved.
“I told him it was belated because the budget had already been passed,” she explained. “Any attempt to create another allocation would violate the approved budget.”
Rejecting allegations that the payments were intended to influence lawmakers, Gono maintained that the criticism was politically driven.
“We’re operating in a political environment where different people have different political interests,” she said.
She stressed that the disbursement process was fully transparent, explaining that legislators formally apply to the Superintendent’s Office, after which approved requests are paid through Central Bank of Liberia cheques that are traceable.
“The lawmakers apply to the Superintendent’s Office. Their requests are approved. They receive Central Bank cheques that can be tracked. Everything is transparent,” she stated.
On accountability, Gono said lawmakers are required to submit reports detailing how the funds are utilized, citing Senator Nya D. Twayen Jr. as an example of a legislator who has previously complied with the reporting requirement.
“That is what everybody should do,” she said.
Gono further argued that once the County Council approves a budget allocation, the county administration is legally obligated to disburse the funds for their intended purpose.
“If the budget allocates money for a specific purpose and I refuse to disburse it, then I would be violating the law,” she asserted.
Despite mounting public criticism, the superintendent remained resolute, saying criticism is an inevitable part of public service.
“When you are in politics, criticism is part of the process. We do not have a one-party state. People have different political interests,” Gono concluded.
The disbursement has sparked public debate in Nimba County, with critics questioning whether public funds should be used for legislative engagement in the manner described, while the county administration maintains that the payments are lawful, budgeted, and subject to accountability measures.
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