LOCAL NEWS
WEE STATUTORY DISTRICT – Elders of District #3 B&C Authorized Community Forest 1 (CF1) are demanding transparency from their district representative over US$12,500 allegedly withdrawn to address protracted disputes within the forest area.
The forest leadership claims the amount, which was reportedly handed over to Representative Alfred Flomo in July 2025, has not been applied toward resolving tensions among communities surrounding the forest.
Reported by: Alexander Musa
Speaking to reporters, Elder J-Max Kpeleh, Chairman of the Community Forest Management Body (CFMB), said the lawmaker directed the leadership to withdraw the funds and present them to him, assuring them the money would be used to settle grievances and restore peace among stakeholders.
According to Elder Kpeleh, the money was withdrawn based on those assurances. However, months later, he said there has been no visible progress or official report on how the funds were utilized.
He further alleged that when the elders sought clarification, Representative Flomo informed them that the money had been turned over to Senator Milton Gbehzohngar Findley for safekeeping. They were reportedly told that the senator had traveled alongside President Joseph Boakai and that the matter would be addressed upon his return.
The elders now claim the representative has failed to provide a clear accounting of the funds.
Adding to the concerns, Elder Morris Karr, spokesperson of the forest body, and Kennedy King, Chairman of the Executive Committee of District #3 B&C Authorized CF1, disclosed that several written communications were sent to the lawmaker and other county authorities, but no response has been received.
“We have visited his office twice as a team, but our efforts have been ignored. We cannot elect a lawmaker and at the same time allow him to misuse community resources. This is unacceptable,” the elders stated, warning that they will pursue further action if the issue remains unresolved.
However, Representative Flomo has strongly denied the allegations, describing them as false and misleading.
He accused the same group of elders of previously mismanaging US$35,000 generated from the operations of the Renewed Forestry Group (RFG) in the area. According to him, the alleged mishandling of those funds angered residents of Gbor-Zor-dyu Town, who claimed the forest lies within their jurisdiction but that they had received no benefits. The dissatisfaction reportedly led to the blocking of the company’s operations.
Representative Flomo said he intervened alongside Senator Findley to broker an agreement aimed at restoring calm and allowing the company to resume work.
He explained that the elders were instructed to withdraw the US$12,500 and present it to both him and the senator as part of a settlement arrangement. The lawmaker further stated that Senator Findley later handed the money to Ben Zordyu, leader of the aggrieved group, to support development initiatives in their community in exchange for granting the company access to operate.
“I have not taken or eaten any money belonging to my people and I will never do so,” Representative Flomo maintained.
The matter remains unresolved, with community members calling for accountability while the lawmaker insists he acted in good faith.
Observers say the dispute highlights growing concerns over forest governance, benefit-sharing arrangements, and trust in local leadership.
Meanwhile, attempts to contact Ben Zordyu for comment were unsuccessful, as calls to his phone went unanswered.
