Mr. Dukuly - FELMAUSA Leader
Mohammed Bility

The Federation of Liberian Mandingo Associations in the USA (FELMAUSA) has been swallowed up in an alleged financial malpractice that is impeding progress in the organization.

This type of negligence in which some senior officials of the organization failed to follow generally accepted professional standards, thus setting a treacherous precedence that now seeks to bring FELMAUSA into disrepute, has unfold with more than $13K missing from FELMAUSA’s official bank account since the July convention held in Philadelphia.

Angry Felmausans point accusing fingers at the outgoing President of the Mandingo association in Pennsylvania, Mohammed Bility for “masterminding” a scheme to divert FELMAUSA money into a different account instead of the official bank account. These members are seriously baffled and still seeking answers from Mohammed Bility and his collaborators as to why the organization money is still in "his hands."

In fact a recent financial report submitted by a special committee headed by community member Sekou Sanoe, clearly indicated that the cash amount of $13, 360.90 is with Mohammed Bility.

Mr. Bility spearheaded a grand convention in Philadelphia from which more than $13,000 United States dollars was generated. Reports say since then, the amount is yet to enter FELMAUSA land. It has been withheld by the Bility’s administration. No genuine reason has been provided for such action, but some angry community members last night signaled that they would take serious legal action against Bility and his collaborators if they fail to make the money available to the organization.

Some hinted that the money in question is being held from Mohammed Dukuly and team by direct orders of Board Chairman Abraham Kromah. They termed it as very unconstitutional.

Interestingly, chapter heads from the various FELMAUSA communities have remain mute on the matter. According to some Felmausans, the unconstitutional behavior of members of the Board is stalling progress of not only the leadership but also FELMAUSA. While the leadership remains committed to the tasks ahead, the current action by the Board to withhold organization’s money is troubling.

Our investigation into the malpractice revealed that following the successful convention, which saw the convergence of more than 500 Liberian Mandingoes in Philadelphia for the annual FELMAUSA meetings, Bility who heads the local branch of the organization took possession of the proceeds, but has since not remitted same to the organization's coffer.

Concerns started to mount afterward when it was hinted that Bility had opened a new account at a local bank and deposited the money allegedly under instructions from current Board Chairman, Abraham Kromah.

Reports say FELMAUSA President Mohammed Dukuly and his team has since made frantic efforts to have Bility and his men to remit the money to the organization’s official account, but their attempt has failed miserably, leaving room for more eyebrows to be raised - the motive for holding the money that seems to create a parallel leadership (Executive vs. Board) in FELMAUSA.

Community members who said they are frustrated at what is transpiring in their beloved organization are watchful and have hinted that a major meeting is being convened this Sunday in Philadelphia where they expect Bility to state why the $13K is still not deposited into the FELMAUSA account.

Meanwhile, latest reports filtering into our news room suggest that the Board of Directors has already disbursed some of the money to “pay” for scholarships for students in Liberia. “This is outrageous,” laments Sidiki Trawally, a founding member of FELMAUSA. "If this is true that the Board of Directors has already touched that money which is not their job, I am sorry that FELMAUSA is headed for a serious trouble. This is sad." Mr. Trawally noted that such a malpractice has the potential to scare away community members who want to donate to FELMAUSA pending projects including the "Medical Mission" being planned for Liberia soon.

There are also unverifiable reports from the inner circle that the Board is planning to alter the already adopted constitution that was submitted by the leadership from the just ended convention in Philadelphia.