Grupee Laments Over Nimba’s Money

Nimba County Junior Senator-elect, Thomas Grupee, has expressed dissatisfaction over the manner in which the county development funds for Nimba were utilized by those, who presided over the money.

Senator Grupee claimed the mismanagement of the funds has been one of the major problems for the under development of the county. He said though he does not mean there were people, who embezzled the money, but those in authorities used the fund in other areas that it was not intended for without properly planning.

“I am not saying it [money] has been embezzled by anyone; an individual can misuse funds by not using it for the purpose, which it was intended for; I am not really talking about stealing; no!,” he clarified.

Grupee noted that it is about time the county expends its money more appropriately for the benefit of the people, cautioning his kinsmen to avoid embarking on cosmetic projects that will not serve the greater population. He said all Nimbians must benefit from county’s wealth rather than a privileged few or those in authority.

In an interview with this paper, the Junior Senator-elect specifically referenced the July 26 Independence celebration in the county that led to a greater portion of the County Development Fund in the tone of over US$1 million allegedly expended for electricity that lasted for only a week after the celebration, and the construction of a US$14,000 toilet, which is not being used by ordinary citizens.

“We need to sit with the people and ask them what they really want; we should not just carry projects that we ourselves in authority want. The people need to realize and know how their money is being used by their officials”, he emphasized.

Grupee has meanwhile vowed to prioritize reconciliation among his people, saying this will be his first hundred days deliverable.

He reiterated call by Senior Senator Prince Johnson for President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to include all tribes in Nimba in the local governmental structure, adding “The five different ethnic groups in Nimba hurt one another during the civil war so it was time to reconcile and move the county forward.”