By Grace Q. Bryant
The Chief Administrative Officer of the Liberia Road Fund, John H. Tokpah, has revealed that eight major importers owe the government a total of US$15.5 million in arrears accumulated between 2022 and the present.
Tokpah made the disclosure during the 13th-day sitting of the 1st quarter of the 2nd session of the House of Representatives, held at the Executive Pavilion in Monrovia.
His appearance before lawmakers followed a formal communication from Bong County District 2 Representative James M. Kolleh, who raised concerns about the failure of importers to comply with payment agreements established under the previous government.
Rep. Kolleh’s communication also requested the presence of officials from the Ministry of Public Works, Road Fund, and Ministry of Justice to explain the status of these agreements and efforts to recover the owed funds.
During his testimony, Tokpah detailed the outstanding balances owed by various importers: Conex US$4, 526, 628; LPRC: US$5,826,830; Aminata & Sons: US$473,906 (after a partial payment of $86,000) Petro Trade: US$575,235; Kailondo: US$94,886, Nexium Petroleum Limited: US$17,075, and NP: US$15,820
Tokpah, addressing plenary, stated, “Among the eight importers, we have two who agreed that the amount given through the LRA is correct, while the rest are contesting. Some claim they do not owe such an amount to the National Road Fund.”
This brings the total outstanding debt to US$15,287,101.24, just slightly below the estimated $15.5 million initially reported.
Deputy Minister of technical Services at the Ministry of Public Works, Prince Tambah reiterated the urgent need for these funds, emphasizing their importance in maintaining and expanding the country’s road infrastructure.
“We at the Ministry of Public Works cannot wait to receive this $15.5 million in arrears from the eight importers. We believe that securing these funds will significantly boost road development and overall socio-economic progress,” Tambah added.
He further emphasized that while the Road Fund is responsible for collecting payments, the Ministry of Public Works remains committed to ensuring that the funds are used for infrastructure development.
Despite ongoing efforts to track payments and enforce compliance, several importers have contested the amounts they owe. The Road Fund, Ministry of Justice, and relevant stakeholders are expected to engage in further discussions to resolve these disputes and recover the outstanding payments.
Lawmakers have also signaled their intention to take additional measures to ensure importers honor their financial obligations, as the government seeks to strengthen road infrastructure across the country.
In light of the available information, plenary has decided that the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Public Works, and the National Road Fund will appear before the House next Tuesday March 11, 2025, along with the importers and those contesting the amounts, to provide further clarity on the matter.
Lawmakers have emphasized the need for accountability and urged the NRF to ensure full compliance with the road fund regulations.