By Laurina B Lormia
The Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) has expressed concerns over government’s lack of transparency, accountability and integrity into the yellow machines saga, and is urging President Joseph Boakai and officials to respect the laws of Liberia.
Addressing the press on Wednesday July 10, at the office in Sinkor, the Executive Director Anderson Miamen, stated that, if the President is to be true to his commitment of running an open and accountable government, the right steps must be followed, including respect for the rule of law especially during these early days of his administration.
According to him, some Liberians have welcomed the development, but call for transparency, accountability, and full compliance with public procurement and other related laws in acquiring the equipment.
“CENTAL is deeply troubled by this development, which contradicts the president’s professed anti-corruption commitment and respect for the rule of law and good governance requirements,” he stressed.
“Why would a government who premised its campaign on transparency and accountability choose to have the issue of importation of such a huge quantity of equipment valued at millions of dollars shredded in secrecy,” Miamen questioned.
On May 23-25, the government held a three-day Cabinet Retreat in Monrovia and during that event, the Minister of State without Portfolio, Mamaka Bility, announced that some 285 pieces of earth-moving equipment had been presented to the Government of Liberia.
“In a video released about the turning over ceremony also features Mr. Xu Ming, Senior Vice President of Sany Group, a Chinese multi-national heavy equipment manufacturing company and the 3rd-largest heavy equipment manufacturer in the world, and Robert Gumede, Chairman of the Guma Group based in South Africa,” he narrated.
However, responding to questions raised by the public, on May 28, the Minister of Information, Culture Affairs, and Tourism, Jerolinmek Piah stated that the announcement made by Minister Bility was not as a result of any agreement rather, it was an update on plans of the government.
He stressed that even though, the government has the power to negotiate deals in the interest of the country, such deals will be negotiated with respect for the rule of law and separation of powers.
He stressed that CENTAL was surprised when the government moved to bring in the first batch of the equipment without any evidence that procurement laws were followed.
On Saturday, July 6, 2024, the Liberian government parading several pieces of the equipment. Media outlets have quoted government sources as confirming importation of the equipment as the first consignment of the much-discussed road equipment.
“Circumstances around acquisition of the yellow machines are still unclear, despite persistent public outcry and demand for information from state authorities,” he lamented.
“The source, cost, nature of the deal, payment modalities and other vital details are still the top secret of the government, despite the Freedom of Information, Code of Conduct for Public Officials and other laws and polices requiring full disclosure of such information.”
He added, what is stopping the government from openly disclosing details of the deal, including cost of the equipment, source of funding, and the supplier, why is the Ministry of Information still tightlipped on the issue.
“As important as the procurement of these equipment may be in addressing roads and other infrastructure challenges faced by the country, the process in acquiring them cannot be marred by secrecy.”
“CENTAL call on the Legislature to get involved and demand timely and full answers from the executive on the matter. This is not the first time the government has engaged in an opaque and non-competitive process.”
“A case in point is when the Ministry of Public Works awarded over 20 Million USD worth of road contracts to various contractors without competitive processes, only to admit to wrongdoing and apologize to members of the Legislature.”
“The government needs to swiftly address the issue through a public hearing and open appearance of executive officials to respond to multiple lingering questions. Also, we applaud Liberians for demanding transparency and accountability around the issue.”
He concluded that, they encourage more of such engagements, not only on this but all matters bordering on public interest and called on development partners to closely follow this and other activities and processes of the government to ask the needed questions and demand accountability from officials leading and coordinating such processes.
Adding its input in the discussion, the Association of Liberian Journalists in the Americas (ALJA) is requesting President Boakai and his administration to provide clarifications surrounding the acquisition of the 285-earth moving equipment.
In a press release issued by the Secretary-General and Officer-In-Charge of ALJA, the Association said while it applauds the demonstrated commitment and dedication of the President and the Liberian government to making roads in the country pliable, they must do so in consonance with the principles of good governance, probity and utmost transparency.
The Liberian based in the Americas group argued that the government provided no clarification on the costs and mechanisms through which the equipment items were procured; something ALJA described as troubling.
In the wake of the government’s miscommunication and lack of proper information surrounding the process leading to the procurement of the machines, on July 6, 2024, Minister of State Without Portfolio Bility, along with some government officials took delivery of the first batch of the machines at the Freeport of Monrovia, at which time she informed Liberians that the rest of the equipment would be brought into the country shortly.
ALJA frowned at President Boakai and the UP-led administration for the dearth of transparency and accountability in the accusation of the equipment and what seems to be their vehement disrespect for the public procurement and concessions laws of the country.
The Association said it is unfathomable that President Boakai, who on January 22, 2024, promised Liberians that his administration would ensure transparency in government’s operations has now chosen to renege on that commitment.
The US based Liberian organization reminds President Boakai and his administration of their fiduciary responsibility to the Liberian people, and that they are under legal obligation to provide clarifications about how the machines were obtained.
The Association described as an irony, what seems to be attempts by President Boakai and his administration to indulge in the same acts of bad governance they accused former President George Manneh Weah and the CDC of committing in the past.
ALJA is a conglomeration of current and retired Liberian journalists residing in the Americas. It is a 501c (3) non-profit organization.
The Association was founded in 1998 with the objectives of advancing press freedom through media capacity building, and the fostering of good governance in Liberia through media advocacy.
