Where Is River Gee’s US$1M TVET Fund?

By Lincoln G. Peters

RIVER GEE COUNTY, October 26, 2026: A prominent citizen of River Gee County has raised concerns over the alleged lack of accountability for US$1 million reportedly allocated to the River Gee Vocational and Technical Training Institute (TVET), while warning that a 50 percent reduction in funding for the Sarbo Health Center could worsen drug shortages and maternal healthcare challenges in the county.

Richard Andrews Doss, a media and communications specialist and native of Sarbo District #3, is demanding a public accounting of the US$1 million allocation and the restoration of funding to the health facility, whose budget he said was reduced from US$40,000 to US$20,000.

Speaking in a digital interview with The NEW DAWN, Mr. Doss questioned the government’s development priorities under Liberia’s US$1.21 billion national budget, arguing that several critical projects and essential services in River Gee County have received inadequate attention.

According to him, although the national budget has been celebrated as a major fiscal achievement, residents of Sarbo District continue to face serious challenges involving healthcare delivery, infrastructure development and accountability for public resources.

He identified five major concerns: the reduction in the Sarbo Health Center’s budget, the exclusion of Sweaken City from development priorities, the prolonged abandonment of the District Commissioner’s Compound, the neglect of Sweaken Airfield and the reported lack of visible progress at the River Gee Vocational and Technical Training Institute despite its alleged US$1 million budgetary allocation.

Addressing the health sector, Mr. Doss said the Sarbo Health Center, which serves as a major referral facility for thousands of residents, had previously received an annual allocation of at least US$40,000.

However, he claimed that the allocation was reduced to US$20,000 despite increasing patient demand and rising costs of essential medicines.

“The current US$20,000 is a 50% cut while drug costs and patient load increase. Government shifted to a County Health Pool, forcing the US$20,000 meant for drugs to be diverted to pay 121 unpaid volunteers,” he alleged.

Mr. Doss argued that reducing funding for a rural health facility at a time when the national budget has reportedly increased by 37.5 percent raises serious questions about equitable distribution of public resources.

He warned that inadequate funding could further undermine healthcare delivery, particularly maternal health services, in communities already facing limited access to essential medicines and medical personnel.

The communications specialist called on the River Gee Legislative Caucus to engage the Ministry of Health to restore the Sarbo Health Center’s allocation to US$40,000 and ensure that the funds are specifically reserved for essential medical supplies and healthcare services.

Turning to the River Gee Vocational and Technical Training Institute in Sweaken, Mr. Doss questioned the status of US$1 million reportedly earmarked for the institution under the national budget.

He claimed that despite the allocation, there has been no visible development at the facility, raising concerns among residents about whether the funds have been released or utilized for their intended purpose.

According to him, the absence of publicly available information on the project’s financial status has prompted calls for greater transparency from the relevant authorities.

Mr. Doss, however, did not provide documentary evidence establishing that the US$1 million had been disbursed or misappropriated.

He urged the River Gee Legislative Caucus and county administration to convene a public hearing in Sweaken before December 31, 2026, to establish the status of the allocation and determine whether the funds have been released and expended.

“Before December 31, 2026, the River Gee Legislative Caucus and County Administration should hold a public hearing in Sweaken where the institute’s administration presents allotment advice, receipts, and work plan,” he recommended.

He said such a hearing would provide residents with an opportunity to obtain information about the project’s implementation and hold the authorities responsible accountable for public spending.

Mr. Doss also expressed concern over what he described as years of neglect of key public infrastructure in Sarbo District, including the District Commissioner’s Compound and Sweaken Airfield.

He said the continued deterioration of these facilities, coupled with the lack of attention to Sweaken City’s development needs, reflects broader challenges confronting residents of the district.

He called on the county’s lawmakers, local authorities and relevant government ministries to prioritize the completion of abandoned projects, strengthen healthcare delivery and improve transparency in the management of development funds. Meanwhile, the claims concerning the US$1 million TVET allocation, the reduction in health funding and the reported diversion of resources to pay volunteer health workers remain allegations made by Mr. Doss.