The National Civil Society Union of Liberia (NACSUL) has dismissed allegations of corruption linking Post and Telecommunication Minister, Sekou Kromah, to the purported purchase of substandard buses.
According to NACSUL, after a thorough investigation, its findings have determined that the Ministry is not liable for any wrongdoing, thus calls on the accusers to conduct due diligence.
In a press statement issued Sunday, February 9, 2025, NACSUL indicated that based on the information spread by some media outlets, it took keen interest in investigating the processes leading to the purchase of the buses by contacting all relevant sources so as to ascertain the facts of the issues raised.
NACSUL revealed that the investigation established that the Ministry of Post and Telecommunication firstly worked on a procurement plan which was approved by the Public Procurement and Concession Commission (PPCC), and subsequently the setting up of a Procurement committee constituting five members, Madame Macdelia Wade-Chairperson, Mr. Daniel Johnson-Secretary and Achie Teewon- member among other.
NACSUL said its investigation proved that the Procurement committee on September 30, 2024 communicated with five venders to include, Africa Motors, CICA motors, Cautcus Motors, GBK motors and Prestige Motors respectively.
The Committee sat on October 14, 2024 with only representatives from three of the five companies (CICA Motors, Africa Motors and Prestige Motors).
The investigation continues that during the bid process two of the companies CICA Motors and Prestige Motors met all of the requirements as requested by the procurement Committee with Africa Motors falling short of the requirements.
Against this backdrop, NACSUL further indicates that its finding proved that on October 24, 2024 the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications wrote Prestige Motors indicating that the company won the bid for the three buses (21 seated, NON AC) at the lowest price of US$ 28,879 for each, with a total US$ 86,637 and one vehicle (PICKUP) for the Deputy Minister of Operations as the cost of US$43,000.
At the same time, NACSUL disclosed that CICA Motors was also written on October 24, 2024 that the company won the bid for one pickup amounting to US$ 34,500 and two vehicles for Deputy Ministers amounting to US$ 41,000 for each (US$ 82,000), along with five vehicle for Assistant Minister costing US$ 27,000 for each with a total of US$ 135,000.
As a matter of due diligence, the Ministry wrote on October 24, 2024 informing Africa Motors regarding their loss of the bid and urged the company to participate in future bidding process.
NACSUL at the same time noted that its investigation established that following the bid and evaluation process, Post and Telecommunications Minister Sekou Kromah official communicated with the PPCC on October 29, 2024 informing the procurement authority of the winners of the bids based on the evaluation and report, thereafter on November 4, 2024 PPCC replied with a “No Objection Order” with respect to the bid at the same time indicating that the contact package was duly planed in accordance with the Procurement Law and asked the Minister to proceed for payment.
NACSUL also mentioned that its investigation discovered that after the bid process, all relevant documents were forwarded to the General Services Agency (GSA) prior to the delivery of the buses and other vehicles so as to be fully aware of the procurement process.
Also, as required, all documents were duly signed by the Minister of Finance and Development Planning as well as the Minister of Justice.
Following the arrival of the buses, the GSA On January 21, 2025 did not issue rejection order for the buses, rather recommended that the Ministry get back to the vender and ensure that high standard buses are procured for the workers, and the recommendation the Ministry took into consideration.
Based on the GSA recommendation, the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications went back to Prestige Motors, for the new buses with fully AC, but was informed by the Managements of Prestige Motors that said buses cost US$ 39,500 for each f (17 seated) instead of the initial three buses bid for at the cost of US 28,879 each for 21 seated buses, with the changed in price, the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications opted for two buses, which was also communicated to the PPCC with a no objection.
The Ministry also stated for the record that the procurement process did not include vehicle for the Minister proper, based on his quest to ensure his principal deputies and Assistant Ministers are provided vehicles as he uses the current vehicle that was used by two of the former Ministers of Post and Telecommunications, Cllr. Cooper Kruah and Whealia Sywah Dunor respectively.
Based on the account, the National Civil Society Union of Liberia said it findings revealed that the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications followed the public procurement and concession Act, which mandates fairness and accountability in government’s purchases.
The Minister assured the Civil Society Organization of its commitment to ensure transparency and accountability, as well as to improve staff mobility and good working conditions and urged the media to at all-time fact-check information in order to avoid misinformation.
Furthermore, the National Civil Union of Liberia says its investigation established that some members of the senior management team at the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications are the ones giving misinformation to individuals and institutions
within the public with the sole intent of undermining the rapid reforms initiated by Minister Kromah and team.
NACSUL used the medium to caution these individuals within the Ministry of Post and Telecommunication to immediately desist from said unprofessional acts or else they will be named and shame in our next investigative article.
NACSUL want to use this medium to commend the Minister of Post and Telecommunication and team for raising over US$100,000 as its contribution to Government’s revenue in the 2024 budget even though the LRA was expecting an amount of approximately US$29,000 as the ministry’s projection, including massive renovation of the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications.
