Voinjama Guest House Tops the List
By: J. Mason Kollie (Ikolliemason4@gmail.com)| 0777683001
A Rural Reporters News Network Investigativation report
INVESTIGATION!!
An investigation conducted by Rural Reporters News Network discovered that several projects under the aegis of various past and present county and local officials have been quietly deserted in Lofa County.
According to a comprehensive report from the Social Audit Committee, set up by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, implemented by the Community Safety Initiative (CSI), there were monies allocated for those projects since 2021 but the former were never completed and remained abandoned to-date.
As per the Social Audit Report (SAR) in the possession of this media, Seventeen Thousand- Eight Hundred and Eight United States dollars (17,808.50 USD) was estimated for the renovation of portions of the county’s only guest house situated within the middle of Voinjama City.
Of the estimated amount, $ 17,200 USD was provided for the renovation of the guest house, but the renovation work has remained incomplete.
The documents mentioned by us earlier shows that the guest house “Renovation contract” was awarded to the “AB-Lalubah Engineering Group Incorporated” but up to present, the building still remained in deplorable condition with no sign of a single action taken to renovate it.
A key segment of the Social Audit Report reads: “The committee decision to select this project for the purpose of this social audit is because; it has the highest allocation from the 50% County Development Fund received from Government to the county among other projects. Additionally, upon completion of the renovation work, the guest house will serve as the only biggest guest house to be operated strictly under the supervision of the county leadership. Because the building has not been functional for years, many citizens believed that the County leadership would have used the funding for another project like the drug revolving strategy at the Telewoyan Hospital or for the road maintenance”.
For the County’s Project Management Committee (PMC), it stated that “Before awarding the contract to AB Lalubah Engineering Group Inc., all necessary steps required by PPCC laws were followed.”
General perception and wild-held views by some citizens
Prior to making the decision to renovate the guest house in question, many citizens believed that renovating this guest house was a good idea and it would have brought certain level of competition among it and other guest houses in the City and will further reduce the difficulties associated with lodging of officials of government, public officers and private individuals visiting the county in search of business opportunities as well as a host of other diversified interests. Moreover, upon completion, it will serve as income generation for the county authority.
Committee observation about the project/status
During the project monitoring visitation, the project management committee (PMC) took note of the following:
“Some of the old woods in the roofing that were to be removed according to the BOQ and replace with new ones were seen in the roofing with zinc over them.
The quality of zinc in the BOQ was not the one on the building which caused early leakage in one of the rooms.
Our observation shows that the current head of the team at the project site was not the one who started the project, something that made him unable to answer our questions with regards to the first phase and current status”.
As of the date of visitation January 22, 2022, the committee found that the contractor did not have scaffolds to do the external ceiling; something he (contractor) said was a serious challenge to finishing the project on time.
The site supervisor at the time of visit was not the one who started the project and so he could not adequately gave information the committee needed.
SAR’s Auditors Recommendation
“We recommend that the PMC assign an engineer who will monitor the quality of materials to be used on this project or any future project to avoid having substandard materials that will cause repetitive job.”
The Project Management Committee Chairman in 2021 was Mr. Mamie Dulleh who assured the public that the project will be completed but up to present, all projects which monies were allocated for are incomplete in Lofa County.
Moreover, our investigation established that the County Development Engineer, Mr. Augustine Jeigula has since refuse to speak to the media on the matter as citizens in the County continue to raise alarm on the various uncompleted projects.
At the same time, the $3,694.50 USD allocated for the construction of Clan Chief House in Kolliemai town, Voinjama District; and $3,694.50 USD Clan Chief House in Lawaluzu town didn’t start as planned with construction being stalled since 2021 up to the time of this time of this investigative reporting.
Summary of the Social Audit Committee 2021
Reporting on project one had to do with the renovation of the county’s guest house contracted to AB Lalubah Engineering Company Group Incorporated at a total contract value of Seventeen thousand -Eight Hundred and Eight United States Dollars ($17,808.84 USD).The year of funding was 2021 and the contract was awarded by the project management committee (PMC). Sadly, while the resources were provided to the contractor via the PMC, the project was never satisfactorily concluded till today’s date with the status of “ongoing/in progress” the full money of $17,200.00 USD already expended. Document available during the audits, was bill of quantities (BoQ) but the auditors were shocked to unearth that in reality, no timeline was given vis-à-vis project duration. As to the justification provided for the social audit of the Voinjama City Guest House project, was because “It has the highest allocation from the 50% County Development Fund received from Government to the county among other projects. Additionally, upon completion of the renovation work, the guest house will serve as the only biggest guest house to be operated strictly under the supervision of the county leadership. Because the building has not been functional for years, many citizens believed that the County leadership would have used the funding for another project like the drug revolving strategy at the Telewoyan Hospital or for the road maintenance.
Furthermore, the PMC indicated that prior to awarding the contract to AB Lalubah Engineering Group Incorporated; all necessary required steps required by PPCC laws were followed and adhered to.
Regarding the second project, titled: Completion of Women Activity House; the project management committee did award the contract to MAYACAL Construction Company. The project is located in Quardu Gboni District; was equally captured and passed in 2021. The total amount then allocated in the national budget for completion of the women activity house was Eight thousand United States Dollars ($8,000.00). However, it was discovered that from that time to present, neither the building nor the budgeted amount, was ever touched.
According to the SAR committee, after visiting the project site realized that the project when completed will serve as the only modern women activities House in the entire Quardu Gboni District; which is predominantly occupied by women and considering the fact that, the activities of women are very important to developing any community.
Meanwhile, the initial funds used in starting this project were contributed by the women of Quardu Gboni District themselves.
All females from 18 year old and above paid the amount of $LD 700.00 each. This singular act was a clear demonstration of full commitment on display as well as to maintain unity in the district. For that reason, the committee believes that now that the county leadership has decided to complete the project, it is important to conduct social audit on it to ensure full adherence to what is documented. When contacted, the county Project Management Committee (PMC), they said that the PPCC laws were followed before starting the project.
Perceptions of the community dwellers
The community dwellers informed the social audit committee that this project is situated in the most populated town in the district and upon completion, it will serve as a great relief to the women in terms of hosting their meetings, conducting women-related ceremonies and safe keeping of some documents that are of importance to them as well as conducting various empowerment –related training and workshops.
However, they expressed dissatisfaction that since the project was awarded to MAYACAL, the company failed to proceed despite the long time it has taken when the initial funding they provided got exhausted. They therefore thought that the county’s intervention with additional funding would have led to quick implementation of Women Activity House project.
Committee observation about the project/status
For this project, the committee during its January 22, 2022 visitation noted with serious indifference that the contractor (MAYACAL) had not done any work on the building at all; which was also testified by community dwellers. Furthermore, the following challenges were also highlighted: the unavailability of funding to continue the project even though it had been budget for, the lack of commitment by MAYACAL, the contractor to start the project; and absence of PMC monitoring and follow up in making sure the project is continued.
Relative to recommendation with respect to the second project, the said “We recommend that the contractor to whom projects are awarded should be fully evaluated by the County’s project management committee (PMC) and also avoid any political recommendation to make sure the right bidders are given a chance to perform; thereby maintaining transparency and accountability for effective and efficient service delivery. And the PMC should make sure that the contractor is giving funding to start the work immediately”.
Meanwhile, from 2022 to present, Mr. Augustine Jeigula is still serving as the County Development Engineer, while Mr. Mamie Dulleh is former PMC chairman but nothing has been done so far the current status of the social audit reports and the concerned projects county as well as by local officials.
Keep following this platform as this investigation is continuing…
Edited: Jesefu Morris Keita
