Lawmaker wants Ex. Mansion Project Probed

By Edwin G. Wandah
Grand Bassa County Electoral District 4 Representative Vincent S.T. Willie has alarmed over huge budgetary allotment given by government for the renovation of the Executive Mansion which was gulted by fire in 2006.
In a communication sent to the Plenary of the House of Representatives yesterday and was read in open session, Rep. Willie said, since 2010, Government had spent a total of US$20,136,908.00.
According to the Grand Bassa County Electoral District 4, Lawmaker, during the regime of the President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in 2010-2011 fiscal year, Government allotted US$973,496.00, 2011 to 2014, Government again allotted US$1,230,078.00, 2,000000.00, and 6,466,667.00 respectfully.
For the 2014-2015 fiscal budget year under the same regime of President Sirleaf, Government allotted US$6,466,667.00 and 2015-2016, US$3,000,000.00 was also allotted.
According to him, besides those allotments shown above, several appropriations as captured from the 2018-2019 indicted the current CDC led Government of President |George M. Weah for the same renovation of the Executive Mansion.
In his communication dated August 5, 2019, at the end of the Unity Party led government, the renovation works was not completed, but left to the CDC led government, which another indication shown indicated that 2016-2017, there was US$16,225,417.00 (actual) allocated by Government.
2017-2018, US$8,189,082 (est. out- turn), 2017-2018 which was from budget was US$10,000,000.00, while, the 2018-2019, government allotted US$6,000,000.00. What was more estonishing was projections made by the current Government in the tune of 2019-2020, in the tune of US$4,080,000.00, as well as US$7,140,000.00.
“Hon. Speaker and distinguished colleagues, as you can see, the appropriation of funds for the renovation of the Mansion seems to be an unending issue,” he stated in his communication.
“It is our duty as Representatives of the people to protect tax payers’ interest by monitoring how our people’s taxes are spent,” he averred.
Meanwhile, Representative Willie is calling on the Plenary of the House of Representatives to set up an Ad-Hoc Committee to inspect the level of work that had been carried out at the Mansion, and that those responsible for the renovation activities of the Mansion be cited to explain to Plenary as to when the renovation work would be finished.
Rep. Willie also wants Plenary of the House immediately halts all budgetary approprieations for the renovation of the Mansion until a reputable auditing firm perform a full foreinsic audit.
Representative Matthew Zaza of Sinoe County who made a motion for the communication to be forwarded to the Committee on Education also wants the committee report in a week.