By Grace Q. Bryant
Deputy Information Minister Daniel O. Sando has strongly denied allegations of financial mismanagement within the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs, and Tourism (MICAT), describing the claims as baseless and damaging.
Speaking at MICAT’s regular press briefing on November 26, Sando addressed the accusations made by former Assistant Minister Matthew Nyanplu.
He outlined the challenges the ministry has faced under its current leadership and defended its integrity.
In a series of Facebook posts, Nyanplu accused Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah of poor leadership and called for his removal. “After the first three months of working with Minister Piah, I determined that things were not quite aligned. After six months, I concluded that transformation at MICAT would require transferring Minister Piah to a different role,” he stated.
Nyanplu also claimed he had advised members of the Unity Party to recommend Minister Piah’s dismissal. “Minister Piah is a big brother with a good heart, but he’s a bad public servant. I hope he will consider resigning before I give my interview,” Nyanplu added, promising to release detailed evidence to support his assertions.
Nyanplu’s allegations extended to a US$25 million “loan-work-study” program for 250 Liberians in the United States, slated to begin in January 2025.
He criticized Minister Piah for publicly endorsing the program on the Spoon Network, describing it as “the best loan” the government had ever secured.
Minister Piah reportedly compared the program to previous government loans, arguing that the $25 million investment was worthwhile.
Nyanplu, however, accused Piah of misleading the public, claiming the terms of the program had been misrepresented.
He further alleged that Piah demeaned social science degrees and publicly criticized his own Harvard MPA education during the Spoon Talk broadcast on November 6.
Nyanplu stated that when he sought clarification about the loan terms, Piah confirmed that the government, not the students, would assume the financial obligation.
He accused Piah and Minister Beysolow-Nyanti of orchestrating his suspension to suppress dissent and obscure discrepancies in the program’s promotion.
Minister Sando refuted Nyanplu’s allegations, describing them as baseless and unfounded.
He highlighted the ministry’s financial and infrastructural struggles, asserting that MICAT has worked tirelessly to overcome significant challenges since March.
“It’s well-known that MICAT is one of the least supported government entities. We struggle to secure sufficient funding for communication programs, let alone have extra to ‘share’ among ourselves,” Sando said.
He detailed the ministry’s poor infrastructure when the current administration took over, including leaking roofs, unreliable electricity, and inadequate office furnishings.
“Despite these conditions, we conducted an assessment and submitted a $187,000 renovation funding request to the Ministry of Finance. When this went unanswered, we raised $47,000 through private donors to repair the roof,” Sando explained.
He commended Minister Piah’s leadership, emphasizing that MICAT has made strides despite budgetary constraints.
Sando also announced plans to collaborate with the General Services Agency on exterior renovations to give the ministry a refreshed appearance for the festive season.
Sando criticized Nyanplu for making unsubstantiated claims and accused him of deflecting blame for his own shortcomings. “Matthew needs to move beyond vague statements and provide evidence. Anything less will be seen as the last gasp of a failing effort,” Sando said.
He reaffirmed MICAT’s commitment to integrity and transparency, stating, “Nobody at MICAT sent him to do what he did. We have all endeavored to operate with the highest standards of accountability.”
Sando emphasized MICAT’s dedication to fulfilling its mandate despite financial challenges. “We remain committed to transparency, hard work, and ensuring that MICAT serves the people of Liberia effectively,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, as the dispute continue to draw significant public attention, Minister Sando has announced plans to further address the allegations during an interview on Okay FM’s Wednesday Afternoo n Conversation.
