Monrovia, Liberia – The Director General of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority, Emma Metieh Glassco, has received criticism from the World Bank about the Liberia Sustainable Management of Fisheries Project (LSMFP).
In a letter dated August 16, 2024, addressed to Madam Glassco, the Bank said “This letter serves as a formal expression of our concern with the report’s content. The document contains factual inaccuracies and weighty allegations that fundamentally mischaracterize the role, priorities, and actions of the World Bank. The report also misrepresents the nature of the World.”
The letter stated that reallocations under the Project for which no formal requests have been received are covered by the Bank’s working relationship with the LSMFP Project Implementation Unit (PIU).
The World Bank takes very seriously its responsibility to guarantee that funds are allocated to projects that are clearly defined, benefit the Liberian people, and advance project development. Goals, the letter stated.
It went on to say that in accordance with IDA principles, fiduciary processes, and project appraisal documents, World Bank Task Teams uphold a strict approach to implementation support.
“Continuously endeavoring to provide cutting-edge technical expertise and, like all World Bank Teams, has worked closely with the Project Coordinator, PIU, and relevant GOL leadership to support project implementation to the highest standards and by applicable World Bank policies and procedures,” the statement went on to explain the LSMFP Bank team.
According to the World Bank, project funding are only used for the intended purposes because of its regulations and agreements with governments.
“We conduct regular missions to monitor project implementation, assess progress against project development goals, and propose appropriate corrective actions, as needed.”
It further stated that the publicly available Implementation Status Report (ISR) from April 2024 and the June 2024 Aide Memoire and Management letter appropriately represent the LSMP’s performance ratings.
The letter: “As discussed during our meeting, the Project Mid-Term Review (MTR), a standard stocktaking and progress assessment, is scheduled for October 2024. It will undertake a comprehensive review of the Project’s advancement and performance – including the issues identified during the last Supervision Mission – with a strong focus on beneficiaries’ reach and value for money.”
Concluding, it said “Thank you again for the cordial and useful exchange on July 31st. We appreciate the opportunity to read the Progress Report and to share our reflections and concerns.”
Reported by: Prince Saah
Contact: +231778239813
Email: saahprince119@gmail.com
