-Lawmakers want urgent probe
By Jerromie S. Walters
Amid recent concerns about Mr. Boakai’s controversial five thousand disbursement to the various electoral districts for the celebration of his inauguration, the House of Representatives of the 55th legislature too has joined the queue of doubts, as the matter took the centerstage of the plenary after lawmakers expressed curiosity about whether or not the fund was intended for the entire districts or UP supporters, whether it was from the inaugural budget, and where did it come from.
As these concerns already existed, it was heightened on the House’s floor following different communications from Lofa County District #3 Representative Momo Siafa Kpoto, and Montserrado County District #4 Representative Michael M. Thomas, during the fifth day sitting of the first quarter of the first session of the 55th National legislature.
In his communication, Representative Momo Siafa Kpoto noted: “It has come to my attention that the executive through the office of the president of the Republic of Liberia gave USD$5,000.00 to each electoral district for the inaugural ceremonies. To date, I have received up to 97 phone calls from District #3, Lofa County asking me to explain the purpose of the money. This may not be unique to my district alone.”
“Sir, immediately after the 26th caller who informed me that Lofa County money was received by one Mr. Forkpah Gizzie with phone number; 0770551103, I called Mr. Gizzie who acknowledged receipt of Lofa County money but was quick to state that my district money was delivered to one Mr. John Sailay for use by all citizens of my district not on party lines.”Mr. Speaker, I would like this issue to be clarified or addressed to give me and others a clearer picture for our citizens in our various constituencies to be informed properly.”
Like Representative Momo Siafa Kpoto of Lofa County, Montserrado County District #4 Representative Michael M. Thomas stated-
“I wish to bring to your attention the circulation of misleading information in the public glance associating members of this Honorable August body to the receipt and expenditure of the amount of US$5,000 intended to prepare each district to attend the January 22nd 2024 inaugural program of His Excellency President Joseph Nyumah Boakai and Vice President Jeremiah K. Koung.”
He says: “Honorable Speaker, it is important to remind you of your official inaugural message to the legislature, in which you mentioned that protecting the welfare of every member of the 55th legislature will be a high priority and as such, I believe that the circulation of such wrong message undermines the integrity of members of this Legislature in our various districts, which is alarming and thus, calls for immediate attention.”
Representative Michael M. Thomas: “Honorable Speaker, Honorable Deputy Speaker and fellow Distinguished colleagues, from the look of things, it was evident during the inaugural program that there were a lot of flaws stemming from the poor protocol arrangements to the organization of entire program by the transitional team, as it relates to seating capacity and the bad PA System which has brought national embarrassment to the entire country in the eyes of the whole world, considering the allotment of over US$600,000 (Six Hundred Thousand) for said program.”
Furthermore, he stated- “In this regards, Honorable Speaker, Honorable Deputy Speaker, and distinguished colleagues, I wish to seek plenary’s indulgence to request the appearance of the leadership of the National Transitional Team on inauguration to provide clarity on the $5,000 that was sai to be distributed to the seventy three (73) Electoral Districts in Liberia and to further provide expenditure report of the $600,000 that was provided for the program.”
Following a tense debate, House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa vowed to take charge of the matter and said he would engage the leadership of the UP to address their inquiries.
The controversy
Following the elections and a few weeks before his inauguration, President Boakai requested the presence of lawmakers from the 73 districts across Liberia, to discuss how the inaugural ceremony could reflect in their respective districts. Though all of the lawmakers didn’t attend that meeting, Mr. Boakai met with a few of the lawmakers and promised each district US$5,000. Weeks later, the President fulfilled his promise and provided US$365,000 to the Unity Party for disbursement to each electoral district.
Following the inauguration, there have been reports of misappropriation and embezzlement of the fund. District coordinators say each district received US$4,000 instead of the US$5,000 intended for them. Some accused the UP Chairman Rev. Luther Tarpeh of instructing the deduction of US$1,000 each from the US$5,000 allotted for the districts.
