By D Abraham Cooper Sr
Zwedru, Grand Gedeh-The Coordinator of the local Civil Society Organizations in Grand Gedeh County has challenged the appointment of a Burkinabe national, Halildi Zongo, as “Ambassador” to the office of Representative Jacob C. Debee.
Atilas A. Kai, heads of the Grand Gedeh County YMCA and Coordinator of the County’s Civil Society Organizations, has written a strongly-worded letter to Representative Debee, calling for the immediate withdrawal of the appointment.
In letter dated November 1, 2025 and published on his Facebook Page, Kai described the move as “illegal,” arguing that each lawmaker already has a defined team of staffers under existing legislative protocols. He questioned why such an appointment was even necessary, asking what role the Home Office Coordinator would play with the appointment of an Ambassador to conduct local affairs?
Kai further pointed to the Local Government Act of 2018, which he says gives the county council—not individual lawmakers—the authority to create or approve local offices. He added that if Representative Debee wishes to establish ambassadorial roles, he should work with the county council to officially pass a resolution rather than making appointments unilaterally.
The letter has triggered a huge debate across the county, with residents and civic leaders split on the issue. Many are questioning the purpose and legality of creating an ambassadorial position at the county level.
As the controversy unfolds, all eyes are now on Representative Debee to see how he responds and what this means for governance in Grand Gedeh amid national and international efforts to curtail the influx of Burkinabes into the forest of Grand Gedeh, where widespread deforestation is reportedly taking place.
On September 11, 2025, Representative Debee appointed Halildi Zongo, a Burkinabe national, as Ambassador to his office—the move that stirred a wave of criticism.
