Misleading! Bong County Council did not approve $300,000 for presidential palace renovation

Claim: The official spokesperson of the Unity Party Bong County Campaign Team, Martin Lawor, has alleged that the Bong County Council approved $300,000 to renovate the Presidential Palace in Bong County.

Verdict: Misleading! DUBAWA’s investigation found that the Bong County Council approved $280,000, not $300,000, for the renovation of the Presidential Palace. The claim exaggerates the actual amount approved.

Full Text

On the Tuesday, May 6 edition of the “OK Morning Rush” radio talk show, Martin Lawor, the official spokesperson of the Unity Party Bong County Campaign Team, alleged that the Bong County Council has approved $300,000 for the renovation of the Presidential Palace—an official residence for the President of Liberia in Bong County.

Speaking during 49:53 to 50:46 minutes of the live broadcast, Martin said:

“A few weeks ago, the County Council approved $300,000 for the renovation of that palace to change the structure. Over the past 6 years, all the furniture in the palace was looted. So the county and the county council decided, along with the legislative caucus, to be able to renovate that place, so I do not see what is wrong with that.”

As of May 21, 2025, the live radio talk show has generated over 244 reactions, 255 comments, and 12,000 views on Facebook.

DUBAWA decided to investigate as part of its commitment to combating misinformation and disinformation.

Verification

DUBAWA contacted Mr. Martin Lawor via text message and phone, requesting the source of his claim. 

In his response, he cited the Bong County Administration and the County Council as his sourcessource of information.

DUBAWA then contacted the Bong County Council to verify the amount allocated for the presidential palace renovation. The Chairperson of the Bong County Council, Aaron Sackie Fenlah, dismissed the claim as misinformation.

“Anyone who tells you that the council approved such an amount is misleading. When the county submitted an initial budget of $315,000 for the renovation, the Council deliberated for weeks and reduced the amount to $280,000. You can verify this with the media present during the day of the budget approval.”

DUBAWA then conducted a Google search to identify if there are any credible media reports to substantiate the claim.

This search confirmed that several reputable media outlets, including The Inquirer and The Liberian Investigator, reported that the amount approved for the renovation of the Presidential Palace was indeed $280,000, thereby contradicting Mr. Lawor’s $300,000 claim.

Conclusion:

The claim that the Bong County Council approved $300,000 for the Presidential Palace renovation is misleading. DUBAWA’s investigation confirmed that the council approved $280,000, following a review and reduction of the initial proposal.