By Vaye A. Lepolu
The Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of State, has filed a lawsuit against Green Park Management, citing the absence of a formal agreement regarding the management of five parks constructed during the administration of former President George Weah.
Sources indicate that the lawsuit aims to halt Green Park Management’s oversight of these parks, which were funded by public resources. The government contends that it is necessary to reclaim management of the parks to ensure they are operated in the best interest of the public.
This legal action follows findings from an audit conducted by the General Auditing Commission (GAC), which revealed that Green Park Management was established on September 23, 2023, and was awarded the contract to manage the five parks just nine days later. The government argues that this rapid succession of events violates established financial practices.
The GAC’s audit report strongly recommended that the government reclaim control of the parks. Green Park Management has been responsible for managing the following five parks: Invincible Park in Fish Market, Unification Park in the PHP Community, Survival Park in Doe Community, New Kru Town Park, and West Point Park.
According to Information Minister Ledgerhood J. Rennie, Green Park Management did not enter into a formal agreement with the Government of Liberia during the previous administration. Minister Rennie emphasized that the parks were constructed with public funds and were intended to be presidential projects initiated by the Ministry of State.
The GAC report also indicated that the previous administration had approved a 20-year management contract for Green Park Management, which has raised further concerns about the legitimacy of the arrangement.
In a related matter, the Government of Liberia has expressed its condolences regarding a tragic vehicle accident that occurred on October 27, resulting in the deaths of 11 individuals on the Kakata highway. The government has called on the Liberia National Police to implement measures to regulate vehicle movement on highways across the country to enhance road safety.
