By: Wilmot Konah Email: dadekolly20@gmail.com
Monrovia, Liberia — The Bong University Students Union (BUSU) is calling for a comprehensive compliance review of China Union Mining Company Ltd.’s annual US$200,000 scholarship fund, as stipulated in Section 11.3(a) of the Mining Development Agreement (MDA). It provides that “The Concessionaire shall provide through a Concessionaire administered program a total of US$200,000 annually in scholarships, one quarter (25%) of such amount to be reserved for students who are permanent residents of the county or counties in which the Concessionaire’s Production Areas are located.”
In a petition delivered on the grounds of the Capitol Building on June 17, 2025, and addressed to the Bong County Legislative Caucus, BUSU expressed serious concerns over the implementation of the scholarship fund and its impact on the education of the county’s youth.
“After 16 years, these promises remain largely unfulfilled or inaccessible,” said Gabriel T. Saah, President of BUSU. “Students are dropping out of school due to tuition challenges.”
Saah further criticized the scholarship program, describing it as non-transparent, inaccessible, and in many cases, nonexistent for the intended beneficiaries—raising questions about its credibility and alignment with the original agreement.
Additionally, BUSU is urging the Bong County Administration and Legislative Caucus to include the student body in county development sittings.
The union believes such inclusion will strengthen youth representation and allow for meaningful contributions to policy recommendations during key development discussions.
“Give students a seat at the county sitting where development funds are allocated,” Saah emphasized. “The students of Bong County are no longer willing to be ignored or left behind.”
Meanwhile, receiving the petition on behalf of the Bong County Legislative Caucus, Bong County Electoral District Seven Representative; Foday Fahnbulleh lauded the students for their stance while pledging the caucus’ commitment to championing their petition. He stated that as an individual lawmaker, he has always advocated for the provision of scholarship opportunities for youths of the county dating as far back as his days in students’ politics.
“As a leader, it is incumbent on us to respond adequately, we don’t have separate positions on these issues; I stand with you as a former students’ leader and I will forever stand with you.” Rep Fahnbulleh stated.
Addressing the students’ concerns about not being represented at the County Council, he rallied them to join the ongoing quest of some lawmakers to amend certain provision within the Local Government Act of 2018 (LGA).
“One of the things I want you to join me advocating for is the form and manner they have setup the county’s structure in terms of how decision are made in Gbarnga.” he noted. “The Local Government Act has created the scene where students do not have representation in the council; we all now need to rectify that particular portion of the law.”
On Tuesday, Grand Gedeh County Electoral District one Representative, Jeremiah Sokan proposed a bill to the House’s plenary titled: “An Act to Repeal Section 2.2 subsection (e&f) of the Local Government Act of 2018.” The proposed amendment seeks to give the county’s Legislative Caucus oversight responsibility of the county’s budget and development approval process.
The Bong University Students Union represents all university students in Liberia with lineage to Bong County.
The call for a thorough review of China Union’s scholarship fund has been a long-standing concern, with many students claiming the initiative has had little to no impact on their educational advancement.
