by our Local Desk
GBLOKEN, MARYLAND COUNTY — A wave of public outrage has swept through Pleebo Sodoken District as local residents and traditional leaders accused the Maryland County administration of blatant deception. The controversy follows the release of the 2025 Annual Report, which lists the Gbloken Primary School as a “completed” project funded by the County Development Fund (CDF)—a claim that locals say is a “barefaced lie.”
“A Bitter Lie”: Town Chief Rejects Official Report
Standing before the skeletal remains of the promised school building, Gbloken General Town Chief Adam Taylor did not hold back his frustration.
“About two weeks ago, I heard on the radio that the project was finished,” Chief Taylor told local reporters. “But I, Adam Taylor, the Town Chief, am telling you that the project is not finished. That news is a lie.”
The reality on the ground contradicts the glossy pages of the superintendent’s report. Instead of modern classrooms, the children of Gbloken are still forced to gather under the town’s palava hut to receive lessons, exposed to the elements and lacking basic school furniture.
The “Payment” Defense: Superintendent Under Fire
When confronted with the discrepancies, Maryland County Superintendent Henry B. Cole dismissed the outcry, claiming the report was being “politicized.” In a move that has further angered residents, Cole argued that the term “completed” in the report referred to contractor payments rather than the physical status of the building.
The Superintendent admitted that the contractors had been paid in full, even though the windows, doors, flooring, and painting—essential components of the project—remain unfinished.
Legislative Heat: Lawmakers Demand Accountability
The scandal has reached the halls of the National Legislature in Monrovia. District #2 Representative Anthony F. Williams has officially rejected the Superintendent’s explanations, describing the situation as a failure of transparency.
- Plenary Summons: Rep. Williams has submitted a formal request to the House of Representatives requiring all county superintendents to appear and account for the management of the County Development Funds (CDF).
- Oversight vs. Politics: “This is about oversight, not politics,” Williams stated. “If reports claim projects are completed when they are not, lawmakers have a responsibility to ask questions on behalf of the taxpayers.”
The County Council “Blindsided”
The Chair of the Maryland County Council, Mr. Thomas Mawlo, revealed that the administration never shared the 2025 report with the Council before its publication. After a heated field visit, Mawlo confirmed that the Council found “serious inconsistencies” and that the administration eventually admitted to an “error”—though no public correction has been issued to date.
What’s Next for Gbloken?
As the rainy season approaches, the fate of the Gbloken Primary School remains uncertain. With the contractors already paid and the funds exhausted on paper, residents are left wondering if their children will ever move out of the palava hut and into a real classroom.