Gbarnga – Aaron Sackie Fenlah, chairman of the Bong County Council and civil society representative, is facing a barrage of criticism for a series of missteps, alleged questionable financial practices, and perceived alignment with the county administration that critics say has undermined the Council’s independence and the county’s development priorities.
By Selma Lomax, [email protected]
Since assuming the chairmanship in 2023, Fenlah has come under fire from civil society actors and community leaders who accuse him of abandoning his watchdog role and instead serving as a conduit for local authorities’ interests.
According to Aaron Juakollie, of the Foundation for International Dignity (FIND), Fenlah has consistently endorsed projects outside the validated County Development Agenda, including the controversial US$280,000 allocation for the renovation of the Presidential Palace — a project that was not among the 25 development priorities approved by the Council on November 16, 2024, under the USAID-backed AAID program.
“This project was never validated or prioritized by the people of Bong County,” Juakollie said. “It was pushed through without justification. The Council has become a rubber stamp.”
Further compounding the controversy, Fenlah has been accused of soliciting kickbacks from contractors in exchange for advancing their payment claims. One contractor, who requested anonymity, alleged that Fenlah demanded US$5,000 to have a claim placed on the Council’s agenda for discussion and resolution.
In another breach of procedure, insiders revealed that Fenlah has been signing payment vouchers, a task reserved for designated financial officers, rather than restricting his duties to signing resolutions as mandated.
“He’s turning the County Council into a personal transaction hub,” said a source within the Council. “His conduct is an embarrassment to the civil society constituency he represents.”
Fenlah’s leadership is also being questioned for failing to ensure transparency in major allocations. Civil society organizations point to over US$800,000 allocated under the Boakai administration’s 100-Day Deliverables and for infrastructure projects — including US$330,000 for the Superintendent’s Compound — that remain either incomplete or poorly accounted for.
Meanwhile, US$470,000 earmarked for district-level development remains untouched.
Observers argue that the Council is overly fixated on projects in Gbarnga — to the detriment of other districts. “They behave as if Bong County ends in Gbarnga,” said one critic. “There’s no balanced development.”
During an April 2025 session, the Council approved a US$480,000 budget. But only US$385,000 was allocated for identified projects, leaving US$95,000 unaccounted for. When questioned, Fenlah offered no detailed explanation.
“The specifics of the allocation remain unclear,” he said at the time, further aggravating citizens who are now demanding full accountability for every cent.
Stakeholders say the County Council, under Fenlah’s leadership, no longer functions as an independent oversight body but rather as an extension of the county administration and legislative caucus. Some members of the Council have reportedly been sidelined, and transparency reports — particularly regarding a recent US$10,000 operational fund — have not been made public.
Stakeholders say the County Council, under Fenlah’s leadership, no longer functions as an independent oversight body but rather as an extension of the county administration and legislative caucus.
“There must be consequences for public servants who betray the people’s trust,” said a civil society leader based in Gbarnga. “Aaron Fenlah must either come clean or step aside.”
With public trust eroding and demands for reform growing louder, many believe the future of Fenlah’s credibility — and his role on the County Council — is at serious risk.
As the Council prepares for additional sittings, calls are intensifying for greater transparency, district-based equity in development, and a return to citizen-driven governance.
Attempts by FrontPage Africa to contact Chairman Fenlah for his response to the allegations proved futile, as calls and messages to his known phone numbers went unanswered.
For now, Fenlah’s leadership is being widely seen as a cautionary tale of how civil society representation can be undermined when oversight turns into alignment with political power.
