—– Term Article ‘Malicious and Unsubstituted for Tribal Gimmick’
IPNEWS: The Ministry of Health says, ‘no money or request was ever made for the disbursement of US$ 25,000.00 to a purported ‘Nyekehun Community Clinic’, Nyekehun Town, in Wahasa District Lofa County, as reported in the Wednesday, March 22, 2023, edition of the Heritage Newspaper.
A statement from the Ministry of Health also stated that at no time has it allocated in any of its drift national budgets to the Legislature any clinic by the name of “Nyekehun Community Clinic, as claimed by the local daily.
The Ministry of Health released notes that contrary to a Heritage Newspaper Wednesday, March 22, 2023, report captioned “In Electoral District #2 in Lofa County- Criminal Syndicate of a False Clinic uncovered …Citizens demand an explanation from Rep. Wiah”, alleging that Citizens of Electoral District #2 in Lofa had discovered a criminal syndicate of a false clinic placed within the National Budget under the Ministry of Health, it does not know such clinic or has it made any payment to the named clinic as published by the Newspaper.
According to the article, the alleged fake clinic “Nyekehun Community Clinic, Nyekehun Town, Wahasa District” has a whooping amount of Twenty-Five Thousand United States Dollars (US$25,000.00) with a budget line 253244, while the legally existing are without the necessary and adequate support (financial, human resource, materials) to cater to the needs of the people.
But contrary to the newspaper article, Representative Julie Fatorma Wiah, of Electoral District#2, has distanced herself from allegations linking her to a purported communication dated February 17, 2021, requesting the disbursement of US$25,000.00 to be approved by Dr. Willimena Jallah, Minister of Health.
Representative Wiah told IPNEWS Lofa Correspondent late Tuesday evening, March 21, 2023, that the purported communication is faked and another political-tribal gimmick by the Heritage Newspaper for political score at her expense and the reputation of the Ministry of Health to favor a tribal man, Thomas Brima.
Thomas Brima is currently residing in the United States and is expected to return home shortly as the Unity Party consensus candidate in the ensuing October 2023 elections.
Representative Julie Fatorma Wiah stated that the reportage by the local daily is dangerous and flittered by ethnicity contrary to the ethical standards of the journalism profession of fact-checking.
“I don’t understand how a Newspaper as Heritage would allow itself to be dragged into the mud to prove tribal leakages. That communication is not my communication.”
“In 2017, this same Heritage Newspaper published that I was a killer, a rebel and the people of Vaihum shouldn’t vote for me but instead vote for another Unity Party candidate (a Mende Man -Augustine Lassana Tunderforh). Now, towards 2023, the same Heritage Newspaper is fabricating lies and falsehood against me at the behest of the Ministry of Health’s reputation.” Rep. Julie Fatorma Wiah told IPNEWS.
For his part, Momo J. Dunor, head of Finance/Administration, at the center of the allegation, especially for writing the communication for the disbursement of US$ 25,000.00 to the Nyekehun Clinic, has vehemently denied the claims by the Newspaper and has threatened to go to court for damages.
Dunor stated at no time he communicated with the Ministry of Health requesting such an amount.
“This is criminal. My signature is forged, and I do not know of this. This Newspaper needs to tell me how my name got into this without getting my side before publication? ” Momo J. Dunor contended.
