“Joke Project” Sparks Outrage: Salala District Lawmaker Accused of Gross Misprioritization in Development Initiative

Monrovia, Liberia – A controversial infrastructure project in Bong County’s Salala District has ignited a firestorm of criticism, exposing what many are calling a glaring misalignment between lawmakers’ priorities and constituents’ actual needs. The project, spearheaded by District #6 Representative Moima Briggs Mensah through the Liberia Agency for Community Empowerment (LACE), has become the center of a national debate about accountability, transparency, and responsible governance.

The Controversy Unpacked

At the heart of the uproar is what critics describe as a shockingly tone-deaf use of public funds. While Salala residents have repeatedly pleaded for basic necessities—functional schools, accessible healthcare, and clean water—their representative allegedly greenlit a project so questionable that NAYMOTE’s Eddie D. Jarwolo publicly branded it a “joke” and a “slap in the face” to the community.

“This isn’t just poor judgment—it’s a betrayal,” Jarwolo stated bluntly. “When you divert funds meant for life-changing development into a project nobody asked for, you’re not governing—you’re stealing from your own people.”

A Pattern of Neglect?

Residents say this isn’t an isolated incident but part of a wider trend of neglect.

Schools in the district remain dilapidated, with reports of students learning under leaking roofs.
Clinics lack basic medical supplies, forcing many to travel hours for care.
Clean water access is still a daily struggle for countless families.

Yet instead of addressing these crises, Rep. Mensah’s office allegedly pushed forward with a project that, based on circulating images, appears to be poorly constructed, minimally useful, and completely detached from the community’s stated needs.

The Bigger Problem: Liberia’s Broken Legislative Project System

This scandal has reignited a long-simmering debate about Liberia’s Legislative Support Project (LSP), a system meant to empower lawmakers to address local needs but which critics say has become a slush fund for political posturing.

Where is the oversight? Why are projects approved without community consultation?
Who is auditing the spending? The General Auditing Commission (GAC) and Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) must step in.
When will lawmakers be held accountable? If this project is as wasteful as alleged, Rep. Mensah should publicly explain—or resign.