GANTA, Nimba – Frustration over the case of the alleged missing Liberian banknotes is not restricted to Monrovia. In Ganta, Nimbaians have praised the government’s decision to invite officials from the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation to aid in the ongoing investigation.

News of the billions of Liberian dollars missing have taken the airwaves and has even been trending in international media. The government has not yet provided an explanation and has informed the public that it is investigating the issue.

In an interview with residents of Ganta, many expressed a need to see the government swiftly investigate the issue, which they feel has presented a negative image of the country to the outside world.

“I want to tell President George Weah, thank you for inviting the FBI to form part of this investigation. This money issue is something that is bringing disgrace to the nation – to the Republic of Liberia,” said David Mentuah, a resident of Cassava Estate in Ganta. “We the citizens of this nation need to put our feet down hard on the ground and make sure that this money is produced—this government government has not even completed a year since it took over. Billions of dollars [have gone] missing—what more if they go two, three years? That’s the whole country they will sell.”

Ambra G. Dahn, who lives in Central Ganta Town, said the invitation of the FBI is a step forward towards establishing an economic crimes court that many Liberians at home and abroad have been calling for.

“There are lots of things that have been happening in the past government and this present government, and God has brought this money issue to reveal them,” Dahn said. “The invitation of the FBI to be part of this investigation will cause lots of hidden things to be revealed to us, as people of this country.”

However, James Cole was concerned that the investigation would cost the country a significant amount of money. Cole, who lives in Boe Community in Ganta, said, “For me, I just want the president to use wisdom to see how he can get those people who are linked to this missing money.”

“Bringing FBI, bringing CIA [Central Intelligence Agency] and other people in the country to investigate, the government will be spending a lot of money again.”

It is not clear as to whether, those institutions invited by the president had accepted to be a part of the investigation or not, but the citizens believe that their president is headed in the right direction.