—Confirms Return of Funds by Neakei Town Residents
By: Andrew B Weah
IPNEWS: The Office of Gbarpolu County Senator Amara M. Konneh has categorically denied claims that it provided LD$3,000 directly to Neakei Town in Gouwonlala District, clarifying that no cash disbursements were made to any individual town within the county.
In an official statement issued over the weekend, the Senator’s office explained that as part of its annual Christmas and New Year outreach, it approved LD$40,000 per clan for the 2025 festive season. The statement noted that the funds were not intended for towns but were instead channeled through district coordinators and delivered to recognized clan elders, in line with established administrative structures.
According to the office, the outreach exercise was conducted across Gbarpolu County’s six administrative districts, with elders, women, and youth benefiting from the seasonal support. It further disclosed that recognized district leadership has already rejected and distanced itself from an alleged letter currently circulating in public, which claimed that LD$3,000 was allotted to Neakei Town.
The office emphasized that while the constitutional responsibilities of a senator are lawmaking, representation, and oversight, prevailing social and economic realities often necessitate humanitarian interventions to support citizens in times of need.
Providing records of past assistance, the office revealed that Senator Konneh expended approximately US$47,000 and LD$2.176 million on citizen welfare initiatives in 2024, and US$37,496 alongside LD$1.355 million in 2025. These interventions supported health care, education, cultural activities, and household assistance across Gbarpolu County.
Cumulatively, the office said Senator Konneh has spent US$84,496 and LD$3.531 million over the past two years on humanitarian support, excluding an additional US$50,000 used to mobilize school and medical supplies valued at an estimated US$1 million, which were distributed to schools and health facilities across the county in early 2025.
The statement further stressed that the Senator’s office does not publicize beneficiaries or districts, noting that such efforts are strictly humanitarian in nature and should not be misconstrued as development projects. It also urged young people in Gbarpolu County to refrain from engaging in unverified political claims and encouraged concerned citizens to directly engage the office for clarification.
However, members of Neakei Town have maintained that they received LD$3,000 during the distribution process—an amount they later decided to return to the Senator’s office, believing it was inconsistent with the stated procedure.
The Office of Senator Konneh has since acknowledged receipt of the returned funds, reaffirming its position that no money was officially allocated or intended for direct distribution to Neakei Town
