The Societal Reform Initiative of Liberia (SRIL) has described as farfetched, purported and misleading issues contained in a petition from a group, under the banner, “Gbarma District Universities Student Union in Gbarpolu County”, against Gbarpolu County’s electoral district #2 Representative, Joseph Matthews.
SRIL, a pro-democracy institution, said the press statement, issued under the signature of Abraham Kallon, is impregnated with accusations from hired thugs, sponsored by a failed oversea politician who has had no impact on his family and the town (Yanyamah) he hailed from throughout his 20 years of stay in the US.
The Societal Reform Initiative of Liberia further stated, “Our investigation on the workings of Representative Joseph Matthews shows that the allegation against him that he has not provided report to the constituents and has abandoned the district are not only false and misleading, but a political ploy intended to undermine the re-election bid of the lawmaker.
The SRIL said it believes that contrary to the litany of false information spewed out against Representative Matthews by an unknown individual using an illegal group, the lawmaker has adequately represented the constituents of electoral district #2, Gbarpolu County, and has regularly visited and reported to the district’s constituents.
The civil society group intoned that its investigation and assessment of the workings of Representative Matthews reveals that he has prioritized the socio-economic wellbeing of his constituents, the construction of youth centers in Gbama, Yangayah and Tarkpoima, Empowerment of women through a L$$1 million Village Saving and Loan Association (VSLA), payments of school fees and leasing of residential building for Gbama District attending the Bomi County Community College, provision of medical supplies, zincs, power saws, sporting materials and farming materials to citizens across the district are numerous contributions of Representative Matthews in the district.
According to the group, Representative Matthews has advocated and lobbied for the development of the district. The erection of communication network towers across the district, especially in Kongba district, the distribution of Anti-covid 19 materials in Gbarma and Kongba and during the Covid-19 outbreak, the payment of UL entrance fees for over 60 students and identifying with traditional groups in the district are some of the achievements of Representative Joseph Matthews in the district”.
The Societal Reform Initiative called on Arthur Gballey, an imported political bureaucrat to stop using surrogates to question the performance of Representative Matthews, who has impacted the lives of the Gbarma and Kongoba citizens, and focused on what he can do to impact the livelihood of the citizens of electoral district #2, Gbarpolu County. The pro-democracy group then urged young people not to be used by failed politicians for selfish gain.