The President of the Nimba County Community College is claiming undisbursed allotments, totaling US$627,000 from the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, the county administration and the mining company, ArcelorMittal, respectively.
The President of the college, Dr. Edward Lama Wonkeryor discloses that he met the college’s coffer almost completely empty upon taking office.Speaking at the 4th Commencement Convocation of the college recently in Sanniquellie, the county’s political seat, he claims the Ministry of Finance owes the college US$77,000 undisbursed allotment for fiscal year 2017/2018.
According to him, allotment to the college from the county social development fund for 2012 to 2016, totaling US$150,000 is yet to be disbursed, while ArcelorMittal allegedly owes the college US$400,000 for the period 2011 to 2018, including US$50,000 as per the Mineral Development Agreement [MDA] between the company and the Government of Liberia.
Accordingly, the Nimba County Community College is to receive US$ 50,000.00 annually from ArcelorMittal by virtue of its proximity to Yekepa, operation area of the company in Nimba.ArcelorMittal General Manager for Governmental Affairs, Eric Swen, who attended the ceremony, confirms the indebtedness and promised the company will settle its liabilities in 2019.
Dr. Wonkeryor laments the college is faced with multiple challenges, including finance.He also reveals the NCCC incurred liabilities, amounting to US$174,607.52 for goods and services from vendors.The administration of the NCCC is considering elevating the institution to a full degree granting status, which would require quality faculty and staff development.
The Nimba County Community College is one of several community colleges established across the country by former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf during her two terms in office, spanning 12 years.
An experienced administrator, Dr. Wonkeryor, who previously served at Tubman University in Harper, Maryland County, took over the NCCC from former president Dr. Yar Gonlah-Gonway-Gono.
At the 4th Commencement Convocation recently, the college graduated 126 candidates in various disciplines awarding the Associate Degrees in their respective fields of study.Deputy Foreign Minister for administration, Elias Shoniyin, who served as Commencement Speaker, called on the graduates to take advantage of tuition free education announced by President George Manneh Weah for all public universities and colleges across the country.He challenged them to get out there to expose their respective counties and the nation thru the knowledge acquired.
By Thomas Domah/Nimba–Editing by Jonathan Browne
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