Monrovia: Following the Minister of Commerce Amin Modad’s alleged purchase of a US$96,000 vehicle by the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), a group under the banner Coalition of Youth and Students for Better Liberia (CYSBL) is calling for due diligence into the matter.
The Executive Director of CYSBL, Israel T. Koffeh, speaking with reporters on Monday, September 30, 2024, in Monrovia, said those that are calling on President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to suspend or dismiss the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) Commissioner General James Dorbor Jallah have issues with him.
According to Koffeh, Liberians know the integrity of the LRA boss from his days at the University of Liberia, the Public Procurement Concession Company (PPCC), and the Ebola Fund. He emphasized that the LRA Commissioner General is one of the best public servants in the country and a person of good stature.
Mr. Koffeh indicated that hearing the news in public between Commissioner Jallah and the Commerce Minister for the MEDTECH deal sounds discouraging, but no one is perfect.
According to him, the CYSBL stands with Commissioner Jallah in these difficult times and called on the public and the media to allow due diligence to take effect, stating that calling for dismissal or suspension is not timely.
The CYSBL Executive Director highlighted that throughout the life of Commissioner Jallah, he has stood for integrity, accountability, and transparency therefore, the public should stop passing judgment on him and allow due diligence to take its course. He described the Commissioner General of the LRA, James Dorbor Jallah, as an integrity icon.
Recently, the LRA, in a release on September 23, 2024, clarified that it did not purchase a vehicle valued at US$ 150,000 as reported.
The LRA confirmed the approval of the Ministry of Commerce’s request in early May 2024 for US$96,000.00 from its Customs Capacity Building Fund under the Destination Inspection (ID) Contract held with MEDTECH Scientific Limited (MTS) for the purchase of vehicles to support the Ministry of Commerce.
According to LRA, the vehicles are intended for trade-related activities in collaboration with Customs. The specifications of the vehicles, as well as their deployment with the Ministry of Commerce, are determined by the Ministry of Commerce, not the LRA.
Also, Commerce Minister Amin Modad, commenting on the issue, clarified that the vehicle in question was purchased for the Ministry of Commerce with payments made directly to the vendor and no funds passing through his ministry or personal accounts.
Minister Modad also stated that the vehicle was not custom-made and was certainly not purchased for US$ 150,000, as has been falsely claimed. “I’ve been using my vehicles, including an S-Class Mercedes, since I took office eight months ago, and I cover the costs of fuel and my driver’s salary myself,” he said.
The Commerce boss also mentioned that photos being posted portraying the vehicle in question are photos of former US President Donald Trump’s vehicle.
