Funding Delays Stall CDF, SDF Project

Reports from Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County says the Chairman of the county’s Project Management Committee (PMC), Mr. Allyson Waylee, has said development projects in the county’s eight districts are stalled due to delays in disbursement of the county and social development funds.

The County Development Fund (CDF) is an allotment from the National Budget for development projects, while the Social Development Fund (SDF) is corporate social responsibility contributions from concessions operating in the counties. However, the Ministry of Internal Affairs placed a freeze recently on the funds pending submission of reports on monies already disbursed by the Finance Ministry.

LINA quotes Chairman Waylee as saying the over US$1 million was allocated by the County Development Council at its August 12, 2013 meeting, but only US$393,000 was disbursed to the PMC to undertake development projects.

He said the rehabilitation of the County Administrative Building and Civil Compound in Zwedru, completion of the Putu Administrative Building in Pennoken and renovation of the Gbarzon Statutory District Administrative Building in Jarwodee, are projects nearing completion from the 2012- 2013 County and Social Development Funds.

He praised contractors for the level of work done so far. Speaking in an interview with the Liberia News Agency Thursday in Zwedru, the PMC chair said the delay in releasing the balance funds is creating concern among project management teams in the county’s eight districts.

Poultry Farm Distributes Free Chicks

A private poultry farm in Vonzua Community in Garwula Statutory District, Grand Cape Mount County, has distributed over 1,500 chicks to more than 20 communities free of charge. The Sustainable Livelihood Promoter Program Poultry Farm official Daniel Vamba said the free chicks supply was intended to build the capacity of chicken producers and encourage more Cape Mountainians to get involved in the industry according to LINA.

Mr. Vamba made the disclosure Tuesday at the farm when Cape Mount Assistant Superintendent for Development, Tenneh Simpson Kpatabah, paid a courtesy call on the administration of the farm. Vamba said plans are concluded by the farm to establish branches in the county to empower more citizens in managing chicks and eggs in the poultry industry.

Earlier, Superintendent Kpatabah thanked the management of the farm for its farsightedness in establishing a poultry farm in the county geared towards building the capacity of local farmers. She said the Cape Mount authorities are prepared to provide incentives and security to people venturing into the business sector in the county.