Monrovia, Liberia – Mr. Mike Swengbe, the superintendent of River Gee County, has described the claims made against him and other individuals concerning the purported embezzlement of cash entrusted to their custody during the county meet competition as baseless, deceptive, and downright lies.
A few weeks ago, following the 2024 County Meets, Senators Jonathan Boye Charles Sogbie, Francis Dopoh, and Mike Swengbe, the superintendent, were embroiled in a financial dispute.
The three of them faced increasing pressure to account for money collected from stakeholders after it was suspected that they had embezzled money entrusted to their care during the competition.
Additionally, the men have been charged with politicizing the county’s planned victory party last week. Due to this, a few players and county residents from different districts were compelled to boycott the event and demand that the entrusted cash be accounted for.
However, Superintendent Swengbe addressed the accusations in a weekend interview with journalists in Monrovia, calling them a well-thought-out scheme from the devil to harm their hard-earned reputations, unity campaign, and, regrettably, the county’s successful county meet competition victory.
He asserted that he, senator Sogbie, and Dopoe never wasted money given to their care for the County team and he urged accusers to stop taking such irrational positions and actions.
“I want to make this very clear. The accusations brought against us is false, misleading and a big diabolical lies from the belly of the devil. At no point in time we misapplied and misappropriate money donated or provided to the sport staring committee for our personal used.”
The chairperson of the River Gee County Sports Staring committee stated that people who are promoting such baseless accusations are those with political agendas who are envious and don’t know the tactics, blueprint, or mentality they employed to win the county in a fierce rivalry.
The chairperson of the River Gee County Sports Staring committee bemoaned that the primary concern was the financial report. She stated that the public will receive a thorough financial report by this Wednesday, when the events building up to the victory celebration have finally reached their peak.
” We couldn’t provide financial report to the public or the county without the conclusion of the project or activities the commemorate the victory. We have series of activities which includes celebration in Monrovia and the touring of the South East. We are done with that and so, we will provide the report. We believe in transparency and accountability therefore, there is nothing to hide” Superintendent Swengbe stated.
He continued that money was provided to the team and recorded in two dimensions, specifically by political individuals who gave money directly to the team and by those who gave money to the County Sports Staring committee.
The money supplied to the squad directly through its coach, according to Superintendent Swengbe, won’t be included in the financial report; instead, the money given to the County Sports Staring committee, which he leads, will be.
Speaking about the conflict of interest idea that the citizens raised by asking River Gee residents in the diaspora for money, he stated that while it is true that he received money from them, it was done so because he is a member and has direct contact with them.
He made it clear that all of the money contributed to the launching committee by internal and diasporan Liberians went directly toward the squad, which he said is what led to the team’s quick success.
In response to a question concerning the overall amount of money collected from county residents, Superintendent Swengbe bemoaned that he was unable to provide an explanation because he did not have the most recent documents, statistics, or figures with him. However, he promised to include one in the report.
” I don’t have the data now but I have some names offhand that give support to the Sports Staring committee and they are, Amos Tweh, he provided one thousand seven hundred United States, Cllr. Warner, one thousand, Dr. Chris D. Nah two hundred, Amb. Norah Finda Bundoo, nine thousand and senator Sogbie provided great help that just can’t be told off head.”
Speaking about the politicization of the county meet, he refuted the claim and stated that they extended an invitation and created a space for celebration of the victory-related events.
However, he adds that some individuals due to political interest decided not to attend and begun presenting them as if they enclosed the celebration process when it was opened, describing them as disunity breaskfeeder.
The River Gee County Superintendent however, urged citizens to desist from undermining the progress and unity of the county, stating that disunity has the potential and propensity to hinders development.
“When I took over as Superintendent, I saw huge disunity and we have been working to address that within consonant with President Joseph Nyumah Boakai agenda. But, there are some citizens of the county due to political reason don’t want to wake to to the truth and fight for the progress and unity of the county. We are open to working with all citizens and we hope they embrace this new Liberia.”
Reported by: By Simeon S. Wiakanty
Contact: +231881538878
