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ADNews-Monrovia: The recent Grand Bassa University Veterans (GBUSUVA) Elections have been marred by corruption and fraud, as several prominent members of the group are accused of using their political and social influence to hijack and rig the process in favor of an individual they prefer to use as a puppet for their own political and selfish interests.
Joseph G. Mehdeh, the country Director for Riders for Health and Board Chair for the organization, along with Abel Sormalah, believed to be a senior staff member at the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA), are at the center of these electoral malpractice accusations.
According to sources, the duo’s mission is to have the county’s University Student Veterans under their control to influence the political decisions of the county while they are also contemplating electoral positions in the 2029 general elections within the county.
“They manipulated the electoral process in broad daylight,” a source revealed. “They allegedly colluded with Tobias Nyonbol, head of the Independent Elections Commission, to tamper with the vote count while sorting was still underway.”
Perhaps the most disgraceful moment came when the outgoing board — led by none other than Mehdeh — could only account for Thirteen United States Dollars ($13 USD) in the association’s bank balance. “Thirteen dollars. In an organization that’s supposed to support, uplift, and advocate for its veteran members. Instead of accountability, they offered deception. Instead of transparency, they gave theft — topped off by the theft of an election,” a source said.
The source emphasized that this scandal serves as a wake-up call not just for GBUSUVA but for all civil society groups in Liberia. “When individuals with access to power and institutions treat democratic processes as personal playgrounds, we must speak out and act.”
Despite winning multiple seats, candidate Solomon Watkins, favored by the majority, was allegedly denied the chairmanship because Mehdeh and Sormalah had already positioned a preferred candidate to take over Watkins’ seat.
Further allegations suggest that the election, originally scheduled to begin at 2:00 PM and end by 6:00 or 7:00 PM, instead started at midnight. Additionally, the power generator was reportedly switched off during the vote-counting process, which may have influenced the results in favor of Watkins’s rival, a candidate believed to be supported by Mehdeh and Sormalah in exchange for future political ambitions.
Mehdeh, who also serves as Chairman of the GBUSUVA Board, has been linked to mismanaging the organization’s funds. Reports indicate that only Thirteen United States Dollars ($13US) was reported as the balance in the GBUSUVA bank account during the recent convention.
When contacted for comments, both Mehdeh and Sormalah denied the allegations, dismissing them as unnecessary arguments. Sormalah, responding on record, claimed that the electoral process was conducted in accordance with established protocols and that any assertions of collusion or manipulation were untrue.
However, Joseph G. Mehdeh, Chairperson of the Organization’s Board, failed to respond on record.
In his official but unrecorded response, he also denied the allegations but couldn’t provide further clarity.
Additionally, information has surfaced suggesting that Mehdeh’s position as Chairman of the Board may not have been filled through proper due process, but an investigation into this matter is currently ongoing.
This unfolding scandal has raised serious concerns about leadership, transparency, and accountability within GBUSUVA as the quest for justice continues.
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