- Bong County Council has dismissed as false a viral social media video attributing the construction of the Lelekpayea Market and the Kollita-Wola public school in Gbarmga to President Joseph Boakai.
The video, recorded and posted by a young man identifying himself on Facebook as "JNB Son" after visiting Gbarnga has circulated widely on facebook in recent days. His mission was to showcase on social media projects completed and others ongoing under the Presidency of Joseph Nyumah Boakai, but his claim has been dismissed by the County Council.
The video, now widely circulated on Facebook, has sparked sharp reactions from residents and political figures in the county. Several citizens have condemned the footage as deliberate misinformation intended to mislead Liberians into believing that the president personally finances development projects across the country. Some have demanded that the individual retract the video and issue a public apology.
In response, Bong County Council Chairman, Aaron Sackie-Fenlah, dismissed the video as unfounded. Sackie-Fenlah clarified that the Lelekpayeah Market and the Kollita Wola public school are county-funded initiative and not the undertaking of president Joseph Boakai, contrary to public speculation.
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The both infrastructures were approved by the county Council during a special sitting in April of this year and construction works eventually began. "Those projects are our county projects being constructed by the county and not the president. We made this cleared even before construction works could start," Sackie-Fenlah argued.
However, Bong County Information Officer Christian Kangboe offered a slightly different perspective. While he did not endorse the young man's statement associated with the video, Kangbor argued that development projects implemented under a government's administration can be credited to that government. "
"Any development happening in the country during the president's regime can rightfully be credited to him," Kangboe argued. "After all, these projects are taking place under President Boakai's administration."
The controversy has fueled political tension in Bong County, particularly among opposition supporters, who are now demanding full accountability and transparency regarding the projects. Adding to the layer of controversy, Eldorado Keamue, Chief of Office Staff to Representative Josiah Marvin Cole, publicly refuted the claim on Facebook. "This building is never Boakai's project-since President Weah regime the Young people of Suakoko through their youth president at that time Jutomue Mulbah started this project!", Keamue said.