But MOH Refuses to Audit.
Monrovia, Liberia – A storm of controversy has engulfed the Ministry of Health (MOH) after revelations that a non-existent clinic in Lofa County was allotted tens of thousands of dollars in Liberia’s national budget. The scandal, first reported by Heritage Newspaper, has triggered questions of accountability, oversight, and possible fraud at the highest levels of government.
The saga began on March 22, 2023, when Heritage published an explosive report under the headline: “In Electoral District number two in Lofa County Criminal Syndicate of False Clinic Uncovered.” Lofa County Electoral number two consists of Vahun and parts of Kolahun and Foya Districts with its headquarters in Vahun.
The report revealed that a so-called Nyekehun Community Clinic had been included in the 2020/2021 national budget under line 253244 with an allocation of US$25,000, despite the fact that no such clinic exists. The controversy deepened when a February 17, 2021, letter purportedly directed to former Health Minister Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah was uncovered, allegedly requesting the disbursement of US$25,000 for the phantom facility.
The letter, backed by budgetary evidence, pointed to Wahasa Administrative District in Lofa County as the location of the fake clinic. But investigations revealed a stunning fact; the town of Nyekehun itself does not exist. Still, over three consecutive fiscal years, budget allocations were recorded for the so-called clinic: US$25,000 in FY 2020/2021, US$26,681 in FY 2021/2022, and US$25,591 in FY 2022/2023.
Lawmakers and analysts say the allocations expose a glaring loophole in budget oversight. “How could a non-existent clinic make it through budget formulation and execution processes without anyone raising the alarm?” one governance expert asked.
Lofa County Electoral District number two Representative Julie Fatorma Wiah, in whose district the phantom clinic was reportedly situated, has denied any involvement. However, Representative Wiah stopped short of denying that the clinic appeared in the national budget. Critics say her silence on that point only deepens suspicions.
One former staffer of her office reportedly told Heritage that the lawmaker is a “game player” who knows how to manipulate political processes to her advantage. Constituents in Electoral District number two have also voiced frustration, accusing Representative Wiah of being absent and unaccountable.
“Since she was elected, she has never convened a town hall to report back to us. Now a fake clinic is in the budget under her watch, and she claims to know nothing,” one citizen complained.
In a rebuttal published by Independent Probe Newspaper on March 22, 2023, the Ministry flatly denied the existence of the Nyekehun Clinic in its budget. The MOH claimed it never requested or disbursed any money to such a facility. The Ministry’s denial, however, directly contradicts budget documents reviewed by journalists.
On page 203 of the 2020-2021 approved national budget, the Nyekehun Community Clinic is clearly listed under the Ministry of Health’s allocations. This glaring contradiction has raised a barrage of questions. Is the Ministry hiding the truth from the public? Was the Minister negligent in monitoring her institution’s budget? Or is the MOH attempting to scapegoat others to shield itself from accountability?
Observers argue that the scandal highlights a deeper systemic problem in Liberia’s budgetary process. “If one fake clinic can slip through, how many more ghost projects are we funding?” asked an anti-corruption advocate.
Civil society organizations say only a forensic investigation will uncover how the fake clinic secured funding across multiple fiscal years without detection.
Some lawmakers are also weighing in. A senior senator, speaking anonymously, described the situation as “a national embarrassment” and urged the General Auditing Commission (GAC) and the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) to intervene immediately.
Meanwhile, questions linger over the role of Representative Wiah. Though she has denied personal involvement, her constituents remain skeptical. Political analysts suggest that even if she did not draft the letter, the repeated appearance of the clinic in her district’s budget allocations is too coincidental to ignore.
For the Ministry of Health, the scandal threatens to undermine public trust at a critical moment when Liberia is seeking to rebuild health infrastructure after years of neglect. “When fake clinics are funded while real ones lack drugs and staff, the people lose faith,” said one health worker in Lofa.
The scandal has also sparked broader debate about legislative oversight. Critics argue that lawmakers have failed to properly scrutinize budget line items, allowing fraudulent allocations to persist year after year. As the pressure mounts, the public is demanding answers. Was this a case of outright fraud, a clerical error gone unnoticed, or a deliberate attempt to siphon funds under the guise of healthcare delivery?
For now, the Ministry of Health insists it is innocent. But until independent investigators dig into the records, many Liberians remain unconvinced. “Let the public be the judge,” said one civil society leader. “But we deserve the truth.”
The Nyekehun Clinic scandal may prove to be more than a local controversy. It could be a test case for Liberia’s ability to enforce accountability, close loopholes in its budget process, and ensure that public funds are not wasted on ghost projects.
