Development funds without development

By Tewroh-Wehtoe Sungbeh

The annual disbursement of development funds is a big deal in Liberian politics. It is a way the heavily centralized national government doles out funds to appointed official or officials in a particular county in the name of constructing needed projects, which would not have gotten any attention had it not been for the disbursements of those funds.

Successive Liberian presidents look forward to disbursing those funds as if it were their personal funds, and will use the publicized occasion to highlight the president’s “concern” for the region. And the local official or officials in whose hands the funds lands also look forward to this major payday that could possibly change the individual’s life for better or for worse.

Since Liberian presidents are not held accountable for their actions, and since they are known to exercise imperial powers because of the office; it is seen as suicidal for anyone to challenge the president’s role in the disbursement of those funds known to also breed corruption, misappropriation, embezzlement, and any other word in the books one could possibly use to describe the eventual misuse of those funds.

The handling and disbursement of development funds by an autocratic Liberian president as it has been in most other cases is not always about the nation and its weary citizens, but about the leader’s ego, control and raw power, a reminder of the manipulative politics that has guided the despot’s distorted view of governance since occupying the office of president.

The advent of this sleazy political tradition is unknown, however, Liberia’s longest-serving president, the dictator, William V.S. Tubman gave new meaning and legitimacy to this madness by using those annual financial giveaways to the counties - together with his cleverly staged ubiquitous annual national birthday celebrations to solidify his corrupt political base, and keep his name in the media and on the lips of every Liberian as a way to cement his grip on the nation.

However, since Tubman’s death over 40 years ago, the practice of presidential financial giveaways in the name of development has increased in the country, with nothing significant to show for the money in terms of eye-catching development projects that captures the minds of the population, creates jobs and a better standard of living for the people.

What has happened so far is the fact that for every development funds disbursed annually, there are countless allegations of embezzlement levied at county Superintendents and other officials and cronies of the president who are fired or not fired, only to be recycled to other government jobs as if the individuals did not commit any crime in the first place.

That’s because since the president is the one and only one in town who calls the shots, it is left to that president to decide single handedly whether the individual who was accused of embezzlement is put on trial or face jail time (if found guilty) for the crimes committed.

The funding and building of projects intended to give a neglected country like Liberia a facelift is the right thing to do. However, not doing it the right way as is currently done in Liberia is not always in the interests of those that really needs it, but to enhance the political capitals of an entrenched dictatorial president who is bent on playing political games, manipulation and dirty tricks to stay in power forever.

Constructing those projects will not only create shovel-ready jobs and other kinds of jobs out of work Liberians need in these troubled times, but the funds has to be disbursed the right way.

However, the development funds and projects are doomed from the start when the selfish politics of an overbearing president who is not accountable to the Liberian people takes over the disbursement process, and decides unilaterally for and against which projects should or should not be constructed, and which county should be given priority, tends to eclipse the purpose and meaning of the program.

As always the case in any country where corrupt government officials are known to steal their country’s resources, the people are the ones who often suffer the most. In this case, the Liberian people are the ones who are feeling the brunt of this abuse of power, corruption, mismanagement of funds, political neglect, and skyrocketing unemployment, as abject poverty takes hold of a proud people who have to beg total strangers and family members to survive daily because of political malfeasance.

If this program is to survive and be productive, the best argument in support of it is to decentralized it and steer the development funds away from the president who ought to concern his/herself with governing the country and not be commander in chief of development and construction projects of the Republic of Liberia.

By taking the funds away from the president, a Board is appointed and special development funds are created in the various ministries to embark on a particular development project in any of the country’s 15 counties. After that, a group comprised of development-minded/civic-minded Liberians, elder statesmen/women and respected community/local leaders whose regions are targeted should be empowered to decide what is to be built, and how it should be funded.

With a strategic plan and projects in mind for their region, the regional leaders and community activists/leaders then should work along with the Ministers of Public Works, Rural Development, Interior (Local Government) and Finance, whose ministries supposed to be in control of the special development funds, and are Board Members to identify a particular project that will benefit the people in that region.

After that is done, the bidding process takes over as private Liberian contractors and engineering companies are allowed (first) to bid for the contracts in their own country. In the event where there are no competent Liberian contractors for the projects, then a search committee should look outside of Liberia for bidders to construct the projects. As part of the contractual agreement, any foreign construction company that wins the bidding war should be encouraged, and should make it their priority to hire Liberian workers and managers to be on their employment team.

Development funds are supposed to mean what the name clearly says - development funds, and are not private presidential funds that should perpetuate patronage and despotism.

Since the funds to the counties are dubbed “development funds” intended to construct much-needed infrastructure in a particular region of the country, there has to be a better way to safeguard against presidential abuse and manipulation of the process.

Category: Editorial, News Headlines