Tima Town Chiefs Cry Foul Over Appointment Letters without Salaries, Call for Urgent Government Intervention

By: Ernest Kpehe Moibah | Bomi County Correspondent

Tima Town, Gbarpolu County- Friday, September 25, 2025-Residents of Tima Town in Kongbah District, Gbarpolu County are raising concerns over what they describe as government neglect and worsening economic hardship, citing the plight of chiefs and traditional leaders who receive appointment letters but are not placed on the government payroll.

Speaking to a team of reporters, Chief William Sumo, General Town Chief of Myima Clan, said he has served in his position for four years without receiving any official salary or financial support from the government.

“I carry an appointment letter from the government, but no salary comes with it,” Chief Sumo lamented. “How do they expect us to survive or take care of our families if the very government that appoints us refuses to support us?”

Chief Sumo explained that the situation has left him in perpetual economicstruggle, compounded by the absence of empowerment programs and the deplorable state of roads that continue to hinder movement and trade. He pointed out that traveling from Tima Town to Bopolu now costs residents over sixthousand Liberian dollars due to damaged roads, a cost many households cannot afford.

According to him, the neglect of local chiefs undermines their ability to serve effectively and worsens poverty across the community.

Meanwhile, Madam Mabel Flomo, Women’s Leader of Tima Town, also voiced strong concerns, particularly about the absence of women’s empowerment initiatives. She said women in the area lack a community center to gather for meetings, trainings, or development discussions.

Flomo revealed that for years the women of Tima Town have had little access to micro-loans, NGO interventions, or meaningful support from their elected officials.

“We the women feel abandoned,” she stressed. “Our lawmaker, Honorable Mustafa Warrity, and other county stakeholders must act now to bring empowerment packages and development programs that can help our community stand on its feet.”

Voices from the Community

Beyond the chiefs and women’s leaders, ordinary residents also expressed frustration over the growing challenges in Tima Town.

Mr. Daniel Kolleh, a farmer, said elephant incursions and bad roads make it almost impossible to sell crops in local markets. “When the road is bad, our plantains and rice spoil in the bush because no car wants to come here. We work hard, but poverty is still our friend,” he told reporters.

Ms. Marionlyn Flomo, a youth representative, highlighted the lack of opportunities for young people. “We need a vocational school. The youth here have no skills, no jobs, and no future if things continue like this. Government and NGOs must invest in us before we all turn to mining and other risky work.”

Mr. Joseph Nimely, a motorcycle transporter, also shared his struggles. “The road is so bad that sometimes our bikes break down before we reach Bopolu. The passengers complain about high fares, but if we charge less, we cannot even repair our motorbikes. We are all suffering.”

A Call for Urgent Action

The repeated cries from chiefs, women, youth, farmers, and transporters paint a picture of neglect and desperation in Tima Town. Residents are urging the national government, county authorities, and elected representatives to prioritize:

• Road rehabilitation from Tima Town to Bopolu,
• Placement of chiefs and traditional leaders on payroll,
• Women’s empowerment programs,
• Youth skills training and vocational schools, and
• Support for farmers and local transporters to revive the community economy.

As of now, county officials have yet to issue a formal response. But citizens remain hopeful that the voices raised from Tima Town will resonate at the county and national levels, leading to real development action rather than continued promises.