Bomi Citizens Want US$11,000 Restituted

Bomi County citizens want over US$11,000 and LD$14,000) given the technical staff of their county football team during the just ended national sports meet restituted.

The demands are among the recommendations contained in a seven-man committee report which was submitted to Bomi County Superintendent, Mohammed Massally, recently in Tubmanburg.

The probe team chaired by Reverenced Sam Brown, was constituted  4 November by the people including Bomi County’s Ways and Means Committee to conduct thorough investigation into how monies received was expended on the county football team.

According to the report, the technical committee’s financial statements (budget) need many explanation and proper documentation. The team observed that some of the expenditure reflected in the technical committee report, were those made by the County’s Ways and Means Committee themselves.

The investigation comes as a result of instruction given by the Ways and Means Committee of the County which raised the money to the funds used by the technical staff of the county football team headed by retired footballer, Armah Baxter.

The probed team agreed funds that went to the Ways and Means Committee were accounted for. “The money expanded by the technical staff is without proper documentation and has cause flaw in its management.

The investigative committee said all funds used without proper documentation be restituted by individual(s) concerned. “Monies received from T-shirts sold were not reported to the Ways and Means Committee”.

The document called for a proper accountability on the over US$11,000.  The amount was received on 13 November, 2009 to purchase sporting materials and do cash advancement payment to the players.

The report said Mr. Amah Baxter – Technical Director of the team, signed for the money but after three games, Bomi County was eliminated from the competition and since then players who were featured for the county have been complaining of not receiving any cash benefit.

It can be recalled in December 2009, players of the county surrounded the home of Superintendent Massalley, demanding for cash owed them.

This incident led to the Superintendent inviting the county’s stakeholders to a meeting which involved UNMIL Civil Affairs Section at the time to look into the matter.

Every effort to get Armah Baxter side of the report proved futile.

By Edwin Dahnmoe, Bomi County