By Edwin N. Khakie
GBARNGA, Bong County — Bong County Finance Officer Silas Tokpa has rejected a proposal by a gaggle of youth organizations looking for to manage and redistribute the county’s US$17,000 Youth Empowerment allocation for the 2025 fiscal yr, citing authorized limitations, audit dangers, and accountability considerations. The choice has sparked debate amongst youth teams throughout the county.
The dispute arose after seven organizations, claiming to signify youth pursuits, submitted a decision asking county officers to channel the funds by means of a single consortium, which might then distribute the cash amongst its members. County authorities acknowledged receipt of the decision however harassed that such an association violates established public monetary administration guidelines.
Talking on the radio discuss present “Digging Deep,” Tokpa emphasised that Liberia’s public finance legal guidelines prohibit channelling county funds by means of consortiums. He acknowledged that public sources have to be managed by means of clear, legally accountable buildings, warning that deviation from these requirements may expose the county to severe audit sanctions.
Tokpa highlighted that though the candidates determine as youth teams, a number of are registered NGOs working below a consortium banner. He cautioned that NGOs are anticipated to function independently and mustn’t use youth group identities as a way to entry county sources.
Drawing from previous experiences, Tokpa famous that earlier disbursements to youth organizations revealed audit weaknesses. He cited cases the place funds permitted for brand new tools have been used to buy secondhand gadgets, lots of which have been by no means correctly documented in audit data. Such irregularities, he stated, underscore the dangers of weak oversight.
He additional warned that inserting a number of organizations below one consortium would complicate accountability, as an audit difficulty with one member may disqualify your entire group. “That sort of danger places public funds and the county’s integrity in jeopardy,” Tokpa acknowledged.
Tokpa additionally clarified that the youth empowerment funds are meant for younger individuals throughout all fourteen administrative districts of Bong County—not simply organizations based mostly in Gbarnga. He revealed that district-based youth teams have additionally submitted resolutions looking for entry to the funds, fueling ongoing debates about illustration and fairness.
He harassed that any group with unresolved audit points is not going to profit from the allocation. The authority to applicable and disburse public funds, Tokpa reiterated, rests solely with the county administration and the Bong County Council—not with non-public entities or self-organized consortiums.
Past authorized and compliance considerations, Tokpa criticized the restricted influence of earlier youth packages, noting that many targeted on repetitive coaching with few measurable outcomes. Going ahead, he stated, the county will prioritize initiatives that ship tangible, countywide advantages, with energetic involvement from district commissioners and native leaders.
He concluded by confirming that the US$17,000 allocation stays secured within the 2025 county price range, alongside different permitted tasks awaiting clarification. The funds, Tokpa assured, is not going to be launched till all authorized, audit, and illustration points are resolved designing a more durable stance on accountability in Bong County’s youth empowerment efforts.
