By B. Linus Flomo (Intern)
The newly elected Representative of Bong County District 7, Foday Fahnbulleh, has called for an investigation to be carried out in the ongoing saga regarding the advance payment involving US$37 million from the High Power Exploration (HPX) Group to the Liberian Government’s Revenue Account at the Central Bank of Liberia.
Fahnbulleh, who is a candidate for the Deputy Speaker position for the incoming 55th National Legislature, expressed concern that the GOL-HPX controversy has the propensity to cast a shadow over the entire government.
Critics of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) say the payment received by the executive was not only shrouded in secrecy and done without legislative agreement, but the government, through the Minister of Finance, Samuel Tweah, violated provisions of the Amended and Restated Public Procurement and Concession (PPCC) Act and Public Finance Management (PFM) Act.
HPX, through its subsidiaries, Ivanhoe Liberia and SMFG, entered into a Framework Agreement with the Government of Liberia on December 20, 2019. The framework agreement was amended on March 30, 2022. The arrangement was to set forth the framework for the negotiation of an agreement to secure sufficient rail and port infrastructure in the Yekepa-Buchanan rail and port corridor to enable the evacuation of iron ore from HPX’s Guinea Nimba Iron Ore Project.
One major critic of the US$37 million advance payment is Gbarpolu County Senator and former Finance Minister, Amara Konneh, who said that the payment from HPX has been shrouded in secrecy and that the Liberian people had no knowledge of it until the recent sanctions.
“Up till Thursday, the Liberian public knew little or nothing about the GOL-AML-HPX deal. It had been a secret!” Senator Konneh said in a social media post.
However, Minister Tweah disagreed, adding that the funds were legitimate money.
Though the money was received without a ratified concession agreement by the Legislature, which many say was, by law, illegal, Tweah said it is legal money, for the fact that it was received through the national budget, and he should not be punished for it. Minister Tweah has since vehemently denied any corruption allegations cast upon him.
Amid this controversy, the Bong County Lawmaker, Fahnbulleh, has expressed dissatisfaction over how the deal was consummated and has called for an investigation into the HPX payment saga. He emphasized the significance of transparency, accountability, and adherence to international standards in financial transactions, as highlighted in the framework agreement between HPX and the Government of Liberia.
“This is disturbing news about Liberia and has a propensity to cast a dark cloud over the entire government, including members of the Legislature,” Fahnbulleh said, adding, “Investigation into the HPX US$37 million advance payment saga should be done so that it can serve as a precedent to outgoing and incoming officials of government.”
Fahnbulleh, advocating for corporate accountability and regional balance in national leadership, is the only candidate for Deputy Speaker who does not hail from the counties of the President-elect or Vice President-elect, nor is aligned with the parties of the Speaker candidates.
The Deputy Speaker candidates from the President-elect and Vice President-elect’s counties, as well as candidates aligned with the CDC and Unity Party, are currently contesting for the position. Fahnbulleh has a track record of seeking corporate accountability, particularly in the context of the China Union Mining Company’s Mineral Development Agreement.
His efforts have resulted in China Union taking action to address concerns regarding dust pollution. Fahnbulleh’s colleague, Rep. Dixon Seboe of the CDC, has commended his integrity and focus, seeing his advocacy as a valuable contribution to national leadership.
Fahnbulleh believes that an investigation into the HPX deal would bring clarity to the issue, restore the integrity of the Legislature, and help prioritize corporate accountability in the new legislative session.