NATIONL NEWS
MONROVIA – The Executive Director of the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL), Anderson Miamen, has called for an investigation into the reported donation of 150 motorbikes to chiefs and elders in Nimba County by Liberia’s Minister of Mines and Energy, R. Matenokay Tingban, following the minister’s explanation of how the motorbikes were secured and distributed.
By: Trokon S. Wrepue – trokon1992seokin@gmail.com
Minister Tingban said the initiative originated during a meeting with chiefs and elders in Glehyee Zorpea, Yarwein Mehnsonnoh Administrative District, Nimba County, where local leaders discussed the need to maintain peace and strengthen collaboration with the government.
“The chief and elders and I had gathered in Glehyee Zorpea in Nimba County to discuss that we need to work together to stabilize the county.
To showcase that we are peaceful people, we are supportive of government and we work with government. We decided that every year we should have that meeting two times,” Tingban explained.
According to the minister, the chiefs used the meeting to request transportation support through Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung.
“So while in Glehyee Zorpea when we had that meeting, the chiefs asked that I should convey to the Vice President that they need mobility. We went to represent the Vice President there when the first 100 pieces of motorbikes were presented in the name of the Vice President. It’s no secret,” he said.
Tingban further disclosed that after the first batch was distributed, additional chiefs and elders appealed for similar assistance.
“Then later they called and said other chief and elders were around and needed to be accommodated and that they needed additional 50 motorbikes. I came and conveyed the message to the Vice President. The Vice President worked again,” the minister stated.
“While I was in the United States, at the time the motorbikes were already being arranged for with one of our business brother who is also a Unity Partisan. He [had] been the chairman of the party who has been very instrumental. Even the 100 pieces, he donated on behalf of the President.”
However, CENTAL Executive Director Anderson Miamen says the reported donation raises questions that deserve public scrutiny if the information is accurate.
“Well, if this information being provided is true, that the Minister of Mines and Energy has donated a combined total of 150 pieces of motorbikes to chiefs and elders of Nimba County, then it needs investigation to establish the source of the financing,” Miamen said.
Miamen estimated that if each new motorbike is valued at US$700, the reported 150 motorbikes would cost approximately US$105,000. If each bike costs US$800, the total value would rise to US$120,000.
“Where did he get such money from? From his salary? From his friends? Or other sources?” he questioned.
He further asked:
“What has been his donation history, prior to being appointed as the Minister of Mines and Energy? What assets, incomes and liabilities did he declare with LACC before taking over that position?”
The CENTAL Executive Director is calling on the Office of the Ombudsman, working in collaboration with the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), to establish the source of the funding and determine whether the reported donation complies with Liberia’s Code of Conduct and other applicable laws.
“The Office of the Ombudsman needs to investigate this, in collaboration with the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission. The public deserves to know the source(s) of funding for these donations, for the Code of Conduct and other laws provide for what public officials can and cannot do,” Miamen asserted.
CENTAL is Liberia’s national chapter of Transparency International, the global anti-corruption coalition with chapters and networks in more than 120 countries.
Since 2004, the organization has led civil society efforts aimed at promoting transparency, accountability and integrity in public service across Liberia.
