By Ben TC Brooks
River Gee County –Residents of Kilepo Chiefdom in northern River Gee County in Southeastern Liberia have threatened to boycott a clinic dedication ceremony after they discovered that the donor/construction company has cheated them.
On 16th June 2019, the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Health (MoH) signed a memorandum of understanding (a copy which is in the possession of the Rural Reporters News Network) with the people of Kelipo Kanweaken to build a comprehensive health Center.
The community, as part of its obligations said they allocated 20 acres of land for the construction of the clinic project, cleared the site, surveyed and probated the land deed, and gave a copy to the government and partners.
But to the utmost surprise of the community people, they saw the government and its partners, Welthungerhilfe (WHH) erecting a five bedrooms clinic instead of the comprehensive health facility promised in the agreement.
“We will not attend the clinic dedication when they call us because that was not the project agreement we signed with them on June 16, 2019″. Said Chief Elder, Johnny Kama.
As a result of the situation, the General Town Chief of Kelipo, S. Tugbah Choloplay, said the community is contemplating to reduce the 20 acres of land they initially offered for the construction of the clinic if the government and partner cannot deliver as per the original agreement to construct a comprehensive health center for the community.
A senior county health official who begged for anonymity told RRNN that he has no knowledge of the MoU signed with the community, but is aware of the clinic under construction. He, however, encouraged community members to remain calm amidst their concerns.
Elder Kama who appeared angry said the community happily embraced the project and offered community services as a form of encouraging the government and its partners, but later on became frustrated after they realized that the original design of the clinic project had been changed without consultation with community members.
“They asked us for land for the construction and we provided them 20 acres. We also did the cleaning of the bush, survey and probate the land deed, gave them copy and took ours, but to our utmost surprise, we are seeing them building a five-bedroom clinic instead of the comprehensive health facility as per the agreement”, elder Kama lamented. We could not independently verify the allegation against the government and its partner, Welthungerhilfe.
Kelipo Chiefdom in River Gee shares border with Sinoe, Grand Kru and Grand Gedeh Counties and it is about 65KM away from the county capital, Fish-Town.
The community members revealed that pregnant women and children are compelled to travel to neighboring Grand Gedeh County to get proper medical services at the Putu Health Center due to the lack of good health facility within the Chiefdom.
