As part of the inaugural celebration in Monrovia, the Joint Presidential Transitional Team (JPTT) disbursed US$5,000 to all 73 district electoral districts across the country to facilitate the live streaming of the inauguration program, coupled with other activities that would befit the celebration locally as a way of decentralizing the ceremony.
Contrary to the instructions of the President’s intention, some county officials reported that they received only US$4,000 out of the stipulated US$5,000, while others reported receiving US$3,000, and still, others said they got nothing.
A source close to the UP claimed that after the money was disbursed to the counties, its local officials, including county and district coordinators, agreed to use up to 20 percent of the amount to renovate their county and district offices, and organize events for the citizens with the remaining 80 percent.
Like in Bomi County, the Unity Party chairperson admitted that he received US$15,000 for the three electoral districts but was instructed by Rep. Obediah Varney to distribute the amount among both administrative and electoral district, something he claimed the money was not meant for.
The UP Bomi County chair, Amen argued on a local radio station in the county that the money was solely intended for the electoral districts in the county to organize event to celebrate the inaugural program in their respective districts.
Like in other counties, many residents in Bomi have accused UP officials in the county of mismanaging the money, charging that those who received the money did not use it for its intended purpose.
A press release issued by the party is quoted by saying, “Prior to fund disbursement to the counties, a meeting was initiated by all 15 County Chairs, during which they proposed the deduction of $1,000.00 per district. This decision aimed to enable county leadership, collaborating parties, and auxiliaries to conduct similar celebrations at their respective county headquarters. The collective agreement for the deduction was not an instruction from the National Chairman.”
For his part, James Sackie of the opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), criticized the top UP officials for their alleged involvement in diverting funds that were intended for the public to form part of the inaugural celebration to renovate their part offices, noting, “Was it the money they were waiting for to renovate their offices in the counties? I think it was disrespectful to the people and the money should be restituted.”
However, Chairman Luther Tarpeh and Secretary General Amos Tweh have instructed all those who signed for the money to do a comprehensive and documentary report, including the attachment of receipts and vouchers as to how the money was spent in the counties and districts.
However, the IAA Director General, David Kemah, said they have been mandated to conduct audits of all kinds, whether special or compliance audit, and the auditing of the newest situation is to commit the agency’s readiness to work with the administration in eradicating the rampant corruption cases reported across Liberia.
“Today, the IAA is commissioned to conduct a special audit of the inauguration activities for the President and Vice president of the Republic of Liberia. We have communicated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and all persons of interest to make available the necessary documents to the IAA so we can review the financial and operational activities of the inauguration,” he added.
He said financial investigation on the actual budget allocated for the event, the amount received by the transitional team, as well as the full expenditure with credibility on the monetary usage, will help them to protect the credibility of the government that prioritizes accountability, transparency, and accountability across the public sector.”
All efforts to reach the two top officials in persons of Chairman Tarpeh and SG Tweh by mobile phone and visitation to the party’s offices on Broad Street, to respond to the speculation that they would be audited by the IAA, did not materialize. Our reporters were told that the two gentlemen were busy working in the interest of the country.
Also report from Ganta on the allegation of mismanagement of some US$45,000 intended for the inaugural program of President Boakai is also creating serious concerns among the residents in Nimba County.
Speaking to Voice of Gompa, a concerned resident of Ganta, Lepasi Mulubah, frowned at the local leadership of the Unity Party for its alleged misapplication of the inaugural fund in Nimba County.
Lepasi alleged that the UP’s local leadership allegedly diverted the funds and divided it among themselves and held different side activities in the name of hosting program for few selected partisans, thereby leaving a huge portion of the citizens out of the celebration.
“Few days to the inauguration, the local leadership of the Unity Party informed many of us here in Nimba that the inaugural program would have been televised at various locations in all the major cities in Nimba, including the Koma Field in Ganta, the Saclepea City Hall, Sanniquellie City Hall, Karnplay City Hall, and the Tappita City Hall, but the information turned out to be a lie. Only few persons sat at different drinking spots to celebrate the day, denying many of us from watching the occasion as was promised,” Lepasi lamented.
Also speaking on the same issue, Beatrice Dahn, a resident of Ganta, alleged that the UP local leadership promised to have divided 25kg bags of rice among residents in 32 communities in Ganta, but sadly, the promise was never fulfilled, alleging that the inaugural program was poorly observed throughout Nimba County.
“This was not the intent of the money,” a gentleman who claimed to be a partisan of the UP, called from Nimba County Electoral District 4 on a local radio station in Monrovia. He accused the UP officials in his district of using most of the money for their personal benefit, saying, “These are some of the reasons we voted the CDC out, and as early as our first week in government, we ourselves are doing the same thing.”
When reporters contacted the UP chairperson in Nimba, Nelson Bearngar, he confirmed the US$45,000 given to host the program in the county, saying, “The county leadership deducted US$1,000 from each of the nine electoral districts and the balance US$5,000 was given to each district coordinator to organize the program in their respective districts.”
Since the end of the inauguration on January 22, 2024, reports of corruption and misapplication of funds signed for by the various district coordinators continue to emerge from various electoral districts. However, many of the local Unity Party officials remain tight-lipped as to how the money was used.
Unity Party District Coordinator, Moses Gleekan, is one of the coordinators that signed on behalf of the residents of Ganta, but he was also tight-lipped over the distribution of the 25kg rice bags and cash.
During a radio talk show, many of the callers frowned at the local leadership of Unity Party for diverting the money intended for the program.
The members of the House of Representatives have raised concerns over President Boakai’s controversial US$5,000 distribution, as the matter took center stage at the plenary yesterday after lawmakers expressed curiosity about whether or not the fund was intended for the entire districts or UP supporters, whether it was from the inaugural budget, and where it came from.
It was heightened on the House’s floor, following different communications from Lofa County District 3 Representative, Momo Siafa Kpoto, and Montserrado County District 4 Representative, Michael M. Thomas, during the fifth day sitting of the first quarter of the first session of the 55th Legislature.
In his communication, Representative Kpoto noted, “It has come to my attention that the Executive, through the office of the President of the Republic of Liberia, gave USD$5,000 to each electoral district for the inaugural ceremony. To date, I have received up to 97 phone calls from District 3, Lofa County, asking me to explain the purpose of the money. This may not be unique to my district alone.”
“Sir, immediately after the 26th caller who informed me that Lofa County money was received by one Mr. Forkpah Gizzie with phone number 0770551103, I called Mr. Gizzie, who acknowledged receipt of Lofa County’s money, but was quick to state that my district’s money was delivered to one Mr. John Sailay for use by all citizens of my district, not on party lines. Mr. Speaker, I will kindly like this issue to be clarified or addressed to give me and others a clearer picture for our citizens in our various constituencies to be informed properly.”
Like Representative Momo Siafa Kpoto of Lofa County, Montserrado County District 4 Representative, Michael M. Thomas, stated, “I wish to bring to your attention the circulation of misleading information in the public glance associating members of this honorable body to the receipt and expenditure of the amount of US$5,000 intended to prepare each district to attend the January 22, 2024 inaugural program of His Excellency, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and Vice president Jeremiah K. Koung.”
Rep. Thomas asked the plenary’s indulgence to request the appearance of the leadership of the National Transitional Team on inauguration to provide clarity on the US$5,000 that was said to be distributed to the 73 electoral districts in Liberia and to further provide expenditure report of the US$600,000 that was provided for the program.”
Following a tense debate, House Speaker, J. Fonati Koffa, vowed to take charge of the matter and promised that he would engage the leadership of the UP to address their inquiries.
However, there are reports in the corridors of the ruling Unity Party that its Chairman and Secretary General have been subjected to an audit that will be conducted by the Internal Audit Agency (IAA).
On Wednesday, January 25, 2024, President Boakai commissioned the IAA to comprehensively audit the Inaugural Committee and all activities that were associated with the January 22 inauguration.
