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Home » Dr. Conteh denies mismanaging funds at UL

Dr. Conteh denies mismanaging funds at UL

by lnn

Former interim president of the University of Liberia, Dr. Al-Hassan Conteh, dismisses allegations of mismanagement.

By Stephen G. Fellajuah

Monrovia, Liberia, January 15, 2025 – The immediate former Acting President of the University of Liberia (UL), Dr. Al-Hassan Conteh, firmly denies allegations that his administration mismanaged over US$34 million intended to renovate the UL campuses.

In a recent interview at the UL Fendall Campus, Dr. Conteh explained his tenure and the University’s financial challenges.

He says that contrary to media reports, no funds were allocated to the UL during his time as acting president.

“During my tenure, the University of Liberia received no renovation funds. My responsibility, along with the Interim Management Team, was to identify infrastructure deficits, prepare budgets, and present recommendations to the government,” Dr. Conteh clarifies.

The University’s 2024 budget, amounting to over US$33 million, was largely controlled by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning.

Dr. Conteh explained that 80 percent of this budget was allocated to personnel costs, including faculty salaries, while the remaining 20% was used for basic operational needs such as facility maintenance and fuel.

He highlighted financial challenges faced by the university, noting that for the past nine years, the “UL had received minimal operational funding, with a significant portion of its budget earmarked for salaries. As a result, payments to part-time instructors were often delayed”, he explains.

Regarding renovation efforts, Dr. Conteh says that an assessment carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Works estimated that $13.1 million would be required to renovate the UL’s various campuses, including $3.92 million for building renovation and $9.25 million for construction of concrete access roads.

However, he reiterates that no funds were disbursed for these projects during his interim leadership.

Despite lack of renovation funds, Dr. Conteh outlines several achievements under his interim leadership from July 2024 to January 2025.

These include a plan for the resumption of academic activities after months of disruptions, the successful graduation of 2,685 students at the 104th Commencement Convocation, and the launch of UL’s first doctoral programs in biomedical sciences and public health.

Additionally, Dr. Conteh’s administration facilitated the procurement of two 17-seater buses for the Straz-Sinje campus in Grand Cape Mount County, with funding from the university’s endowment managed by the Trustees of Donations for Education in Liberia (TDEL). This move was aimed at improving students’ mobility and campus life.

In a farewell speech recently at an investiture ceremony for the UL’s 16th President, Dr. Layli Maparyan, Dr. Conteh expressed gratitude to President Joseph Boakai and the Board of Trustees for their support throughout his tenure. He acknowledged financial constraints faced by the institution but emphasized that substantial groundwork had been laid for future growth.

He also called on the government to increase support to the UL, particularly in addressing renovation of deteriorating facilities, providing transportation for faculty and staff, and settling salary arrears for adjunct faculty.

As the outgoing Acting President hands over the leadership to Dr. Maparyan, the University of Liberia stands at a critical juncture, with challenges of underfunding and infrastructural decay remaining.

However, with strong leadership and collaborative efforts, this could be reversed so that the UL can continue striving towards its core mission of fostering academic excellence and national development. Editing by Jonathan Browne

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