Monrovia, Liberia – Senator Abraham Darius Dillon of Montserrado County, a staunch supporter of the ruling Unity Party, has made it very evident to other government officials that it is time to replace those who are failing to execute their duties or who have engaged in corrupt activities.
On Wednesday, October 2, 2024, Senator Dillon posted on Facebook, saying, “Time To Change, Shake Up or Shake Out.” The senator from Montserrado County claimed that President Boakai has told government officials that their honeymoon is gone.
President Boakai was cited by Senator Dillon as stating, “JNB assures that “honeymoon” is over!” It’s time to take calculated, swift, and decisive action: layoffs, suspensions, and more accountability-related prosecutions! No more justifications or ‘babysitting’!
In his capacity as a senator, he clarified that he is happy that parliamentarians have recommitted and renewed their unwavering support for strict parliamentary scrutiny as needed.
In his Facebook post, Senator Dillon, a member of the Liberian delegation to the US, explained that Liberia and her people deserve more and emphasized the importance of serving others before oneself.
There have been recent allegations that Commerce Minister Amin received a US$96,000 car from the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA). The Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) has stated that it did not buy the car valued at US$150,000 as previously reported in a statement dated September 23, 2024.
On the other hand, it verified that the MOCI’s request for US$96,000.00 from its Customs Capacity Building Fund, which it made in early May 2024, was approved. This was in accordance with the Destination Inspection (DI) Contract that it held with MEDTECH Scientific Limited (MTS) for the acquisition of vehicles to assist the MOCI.
According to the organization, these cars are meant for use in trade-related tasks in conjunction with Customs. It is the MOCI, not the LRA, that decides the vehicle specs and how they are deployed inside MOCI. The public’s outrage over the subject increased after this discovery.
Additionally, on September 30, 2024, the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) declared that it had received information on claims that the Republic of Liberia’s government had spent $15 million or more outside of budget.
As such, LACC Chairperson Cllr. Alexandra Zoe stated that the organization hopes to handle the situation in a way that is in line with their mission to advance accountability, openness, and good governance.
She pledged to the public that the LACC had started a preliminary investigation into the allegations and stated that the organization takes those claims seriously because they deal with issues fundamental to the organization’s institutional goals. She also stated that if verified, off-budget spending can erode public confidence in government, erode fiscal restraint, and jeopardize the nation’s financial stability.
“The veracity of the allegations, accountability, and adherence to legal protocols will all be ascertained through a thorough inquiry that will come after this. We pledge to operate in complete transparency and objectivity during this investigation. We want to maintain open and honest communication with all pertinent parties during the process, such as the Ministry of Finance and other oversight organizations,” she stated.
Reported by: Prince Saah
Contact: +231778239813
Email: saahprince119@gmail.com
