worth of medical supplies donated to the country by the United States government.
However, the USAID Director James Wright allegation has since been by former Health Minister, Dr. Wilhemina Jallah, stating that the supplies were properly distributed and used for their intended purpose across Liberia.
Director Wright also claims that the medical supplies, which included medical drugs and other essential medical items, were not properly accounted for and may have been diverted for personal use or sold on the black market.
The USAID advances the U.S. government national security and economic prosperity, thus demonstrating American generosity, and promotes a path to recipient self-reliance and resilience.
Director Wright, speaking to the Voice America further revealed that the medical supplies were not used for its intended purpose, terming the action by the former ruling CDC government officials as “fraudulent and unethical.”
According to him, the continuous health challenges faced by the country are as a result of public officials’ lack of political will to work in the interest of the country and its citizens, something he continues to deprive Liberians from accessing affordable and reliable healthcare services.
He further asserted that over 90 percent of the medical supplies that were donated to the country during the former administration by the U.S government were sold to citizens contrary to USAID’s humanitarian gesture to the country in 2023.
Director Wright is at the same time calling on President Joseph Boakai to ensure a speedy and impartial investigation into the matter with a threat to withhold future aid to Liberia if the allegations are not addressed.
But in response to Director Wright’s allegation, assertion, former Health Minister, Dr. Wilhemina Jallah termed as unrealistic the information provided by the USAID Director that over 90 percent of the drugs was not used for its intended purpose.
She narrated that in line with former President Weah’s agenda, the donated medical supplies were distributed to health facilities across the country and were also used to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and other public health emergencies.
Dr. Jallah added that despite reports of stolen medical supplies, the Ministry launched an investigation which proved that nothing was stolen, and bragged that she and the team were very committed to ensuring transparency and accountability in the handling of foreign aid.
Meanwhile, the USAID Director allegation comes at the time the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) has indicted 12 individuals and arrested two others for allegedly misapplying the donor funds, totaling US$188,978.86, directed to the Ministry of Health.
LACC Chairperson, Alexandra Zoe, said those indicted and arrested are members of the Margibi County Health Team and some business personnel who were all accused of financial improprieties and kickbacks.
Those indicted include Augustine N. Fannieh, County Health Officer; Leroy Dorwazia, County Administrator; Dornuu Horace, County Procurement Officer; William Johnson, County Logistics Officer, and Roland Reeves, County Finance Officer, all from the Margibi County Health Team.
Others are Ernest Flahn, County Logistics Officer; Thomas M. Bonard, County Diagnostics Officer; Barkolleh Kollie, General Manager, M.J.K. Business Center; Vamuyan Traore, General Manager, Biomedical Link; Mohammed Dunor, General Manager, M.D. Capital Reliable Link; Odoshall Oldpa Kanue, General Manager, God’s Willing Inc., and Momo K. Miller, General Manager, Children Father Business.
According to her, the indictees were jointly and severally charged to answer to the above crimes, grown out of financial improprieties and kickbacks by officials of the MCHT, in the tune of US$188,978.86, from the USAID funded project intended to improve the Health Care Delivery service of citizens of Margibi.
It can be recalled that on April 14, 2022, a local media reported that US$1.1 million of donor funds was wasted and mismanaged by the Ministry of Health, leaving a dark cloud over the Ministry and government at large.
According to the news outlet, the Liberia Coordinating Mechanism (LCM) at the Ministry of Health acknowledged the investigative report published on April 8, 2022, by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG).
The report released by the OIG highlighted systemic fraud and misappropriation by the Ministry of Health, a principal recipient of the Global Fund Grants, and recommended that robust action be taken by the Government of Liberia.
Taking into consideration the report, the Liberia Anti-corruption Commission immediately utilized the open-source, obtained the investigative report, and launched a full-scale investigation into the allegation, intended to ascertain the facts.
