NATIONAL NEWS
GRAND BASSA COUNTY – A major anti-corruption petition leaked to Liberia Excellent News Network is calling for an immediate criminal and forensic investigation into alleged massive financial irregularities and economic sabotage within the Grand Bassa County Administration.
By: Trokon S. Wrepue – trokon1992seokin@gmail.com
The petition, dated May 21, 2026, is expected to be formally presented today, Friday, to the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission through its Executive Chairperson, Alexandra K. Zoe.
The document, signed by P. Maxwell Vah, Chairman of the Bassa Democratic Movement for Transparency, Accountability, and Good Governance, is based on findings contained in a compliance audit report by the General Auditing Commission covering the Grand Bassa County Administration from July 2018 to December 2023.
Alleged Unauthorized Spending
According to the petition, the audit uncovered what it described as a “sustained pattern of financial impropriety, procurement manipulation, abuse of administrative authority, concealment of financial transactions, and possible conspiracy to defraud the Government and People of Liberia.”
Among the most serious allegations outlined in the petition is the reported unauthorized expenditure of approximately US$1.79 million beyond approved budgetary appropriations without evidence of legislative approval or supplementary authorization.
The petition further alleged that auditors discovered more than US$4.3 million in budgetary irregularities, including discrepancies exceeding US$1 million between IFMIS ledgers and fiscal outturn reports.
Concerns Over Abandoned Projects
The anti-corruption complaint also highlighted several abandoned and undocumented development projects allegedly funded with public money.
According to the petition, payments totaling more than US$680,000 and over LD$42 million were reportedly made for projects abandoned beyond contractual timelines.
Additional allegations include payments of over US$577,000 and LD$58 million for projects without evidence of implementation, as well as second-phase project payments totaling nearly US$440,000 without proof that earlier contractual obligations had been completed.
The petition specifically referenced concerns surrounding the construction of the St. John River Bridge, the Diahn Bridge, and development projects in Electoral District Number Five.
Procurement Fraud Allegations
The group is also demanding investigations into alleged procurement fraud, including claims that approximately US$1.69 million was paid for a 35KVA Macforth generator while a 15KVA generator was allegedly delivered instead.
The petition accused county authorities of failing to account for cash and in-kind contributions from ArcelorMittal Liberia amounting to over US$167,000, failing to remit taxes exceeding US$83,000 and LD$17 million, and maintaining undisclosed bank accounts linked to transactions involving approximately US$200,000 allegedly received from BMC International.
Unsupported Expenditures
Auditors also reportedly identified unsupported expenditures totaling more than US$304,000 and LD$3 million without invoices, receipts, or completion certificates, raising concerns about possible fictitious or fraudulent transactions.
The petition is calling on the LACC to immediately launch a criminal and forensic investigation, trace and freeze suspicious assets, prosecute all individuals linked to the alleged irregularities, and recover all public funds found to have been unlawfully expended.
“The people of Grand Bassa County deserve answers. The Liberian people deserve accountability,” the petition stated.
As of press time, authorities at the Grand Bassa County Administration had not publicly responded to the allegations contained in the petition.
