By Bill W. Cooper
Nimba County Senator, Prince Johnson, is proposing the establishment of an Inquiry Commission to investigate the mysterious deaths and alleged mismanagement of State resources under the outgoing Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) Government.
Sen. Johnson, popularly known for his role in the country’s 14 years of civil war, urged President-elect, Joseph Boakai of the Unity Party (UP), to ensure the speedy investigation of all mysterious deaths experienced during the last five and the half years.
The senator’s call came due to so many mysterious deaths experienced during the first term of President Weah. These deaths are yet to properly investigated, ensuring that those involved be held accountable and prosecuted.
It can be recalled that on October 17, 2020, Robert M. Blamo, Jr., 29; Siafa Gbana Boimah, 34, and Bobby S. Gbeanquoi, 32, were reported drowned in a river in Fuama district, lower Bong County, when a canoe they were allegedly riding capsized while returning to their respective homes.
They were reportedly contracted to do a “piece of job” at the Oriental Mining Company owned and operated by Moses H. Ahossouhe (Proprietor of St. Moses Funeral Parlors), and one Abraham S. Samuels. It was reported by Ahoussouhe that the three young men drowned.
But prior to the disappearance of the three boys, during the early morning hours of October 2, 2020, two senior employees of the LRA were discovered dead under mysterious circumstances, as their lifeless bodies were seen in a vehicle belonging to Albert Peters, with one Mrs. Lama’s gray Jeep parked in front of Peters’ on Snapper Hill, up Broad Street.
After the discovery of the lifeless bodies of the LRA employees in Peters’ vehicle, another auditor from the large tax division at the LRA, George Fahnboto, was allegedly cut in his head by some unknown individuals on a motorbike, but it was widely reported that he died in a tragic motor accident along the 72nd Boulevard road, around Monrovia’s Paynesville suburb on October 4, 2020.
Thereafter, the Head of the Internal Audit Agency (IAA), Emmanuel Nyensuah, was also discovered dead in mysterious circumstance at his Boulevard residence in Paynesville.
There have also been allegations of the mismanage and misuse of public funds by the CDC Government, ranging from the L$16 billion container saga to the US$25 million mop-up exercise, among others.
But according to Sen. Johnson, the Commission, when established, will not only investigate the mysterious deaths, but will also investigate the missing funds during the Weah-Taylor regime, which could help restore donors’ confidence in the UP Government.
According to him, he will use his political influence to ensure that President Weah; Finance Minister, Samuel Tweah; former Minister of State, Nathaniel McGill, and former Port Managing Director, Bill Twehway, and others, account for their time in government.
He explained that the intended purpose of the Inquiry Commission is to shed light on the confusing circumstances surrounding these deaths and thoroughly investigate any potential connections to the CDC Government.
Speaking to reporters recently in Paynesville, Sen. Johnson maintained the Commission would also be tasked with examining allegations of financial impropriety and the misappropriation of state resources that have been leveled against the outgoing administration.
He added that it would also hold accountable those responsible for any mismanagement of public funds, reinforcing the principles of good governance and preventing future occurrences of such malpractice.
“The Inquiry Commission, once established, could serve as a crucial step towards fostering accountability, restoring public trust, and upholding the rule of law in Liberia, and the possibility of the Boakai-Koung administration to get support from donors,” Sen. Johnson averred.
