“If anybody has recorded any transactions between Kante and the Committee they should come forward with the facts and not base on hearsay,” Information Ministry has challenged.
The government’s clarification comes against the perception that Sheikh Bassirou Kante known as ‘Royal Gold’ now in the United States government’s custody contributed to the bicentennial.
It has become a claim that the businessman having sponsored the performance of Nigerian musician, P-Square in Liberia during the formal launched of the project in Monrovia made some cash contribution as well to the Liberian government.
The Liberian government stated that suspect Kante who has not worked for the government did not give “a cent” in any form or manner to the ongoing bicentennial project in the country.
The rumor around has made the public to insinuate that the accused contributed US$100, 000 towards the bicentennial project in the country dubbed: “Liberia 200 years old the land of the return.”
However, in Information Minister Ledgerhood Rennie’s clarifications yesterday during a media briefing at MICAT which was basically to respond to the public insinuations, he stated that the bicentennial program chaired by his institution “never and ever” received a cent from Kante besides the sponsoring of Nigerian singer, P-Square whom he brought to Monrovia during the launch.
On the allegations made against Foreign Minister, Dee-Maxwell Kemayah, thereby implicating him to the Kante’s diplomatic passport scandal by the National Youth Movement for Transparent Election and Development Partners, the Information Minister requests that NAYMOTE renders an ‘unequivocal apology’ to Minister Kemayah.
He adjudged NAYMOTE and its Executive Director, Eddie Jarwolo wrong to have accused Kemayah who has not assumed office when Kante acquired the diplomatic passport from the Foreign Ministry in Monrovia.
“Kemayah was nominated on Thursday, December 3, 2020 while staying on duty in the United States. A month later, he came home and was confirmed by the Senate,” Rennie explain.
The information Minister continued; “How then can Kemayah be a part of such a scandal? How can you blame somebody for a problem which he is not a part of?”
Rennie then advised Jarwolo and his team that before commenting on issues of national concern publicly to first do a thorough research and get facts correct instead of making insinuating comments that have the potential of stirring up confusion.