GANTA, NIMBA – Amid strong opposition from several members of the Liberian legislature regarding the possible acquisition of 285 roadbuilding equipment by President Joseph Nyumah Boakai without legislative approval, Nimba’s Sen. Nya D. Twayen has promised to ratify any document that will be sent to the Senate for the machines.
Speaking via mobile phone on the Voice of Gompa on July 15, Twayen said the legislature had approved many initiatives that were not actualized under the past regime, including the controversial ETON and EBOMAF loan deal and the proposed transformation of Bali Island into a new city.
At the administration’s first cabinet retreat, Minister of State Mamaka Bility announced that 285 sets of road equipment had been handed to the government and were en route to Liberia. This announcement was accompanied by a video showing the machines emblazoned with Pres. Boakai’s photograph and the Liberian flag. It prompted applause but also sparked concerns among the public and key figures within the Unity Party Alliance regarding the source of funds for the purchase and whether it adhered to public procurement regulations.
A few weeks later, a few dozen pieces of equipment were paraded around the streets of Monrovia, prompting further questioning from lawmakers.
On July 9, Pres. Boakai wrote the speaker of the House of Representatives, Fonati Koffa, informing him that there was no formal agreement or contract that had been signed for the machines.
The letter further noted that discussions for the machines were ongoing and no financial commitment had been made by the government. The president said once negotiations are concluded and a formal agreement is reached, they will promptly submit the necessary documents to the legislature for ratification. The president clarified that if negotiations for the acquisition of the machines failed to yield a mutually beneficial agreement, the supplier retained the right to reclaim the equipment and sell them within the Liberian market or re-export them.
“To date, no funds from the Liberian treasury have been expended on this project. The first batch of equipment that arrived in the country was shipped at the supplier’s expense,” Boakai wrote.
Meanwhile, Sen. Twayen said he has not spoken much on the issue of the construction equipment because he knows that it will be a “done deal” once presented to the legislature for approval.
The Nimba senator said for the sake of accountability and transparency, the executive should ensure that documents submitted for ratification should contain the actual market value of the machines. He noted no issue with the advanced acquisition of the machines and their delivery in Liberia prior to legislative approval.
“How many times in this country have we paid for things we didn’t see?” he asked. “I hear people making noise all over the place, ‘Oh, we will not ratify, we will not do this, we will not do that,’ but you ratified things you did not see. At the end of the day, we are not going to tolerate that. I am very calm on this yellow machine issue because I know it is a done deal. Definitely, we will ratify this deal.”
Twayen added, “As far as I am concerned, we need roads – we need those machines to maintain our roads routinely in Nimba County.”
Since the news broke that the executive has procured 285 pieces of yellow machines and has started bringing them into the country, several lawmakers have been expressing opposition to the purchase because of the lack of transparency and possible violation of public procurement rules.
Rep. Musa Bility of Nimba’s seventh district, meanwhile, has criticized Pres. Boakai’s assertion that no public funds were used because import duties on the machines were apparently waived, effectively costing the country tens of thousands of dollars. He added that since Liberia does not yet own the machines, there was no need to waive import taxes.
Some of the controversial machines being transported from the Freeport of Monrovia/ photo credit: Class Reloaded Facebook page.
Responding to Rep. Bility, Sen. Twayen said Bility has the power to summon the authorities of the National Port Authority, APM Terminal, and the Liberia Revenue Authority to authenticate whether taxes were paid on the machines or not. Therefore, he should use his power to substantiate the president’s claim.
Twayen said whether the machines were brought into the country at a cost or not, what is important is that the right things will be done for the country to own them. He said as long as the payment for the machines is not a resource swap deal, but money for goods transaction, the legislature will allot money in the budget to ensure it is paid for over time.
“What I will be looking forward to is a transparent procurement report that will show us that the Caterpillar [machines] were sold to the country for the right price,” he said. “For example, to say okay, we [are] coming to take this other mountain or we’re coming to take this other gold mine, no. It should be cash for goods. We put it in the budget over time and pay for it and move on.”
Featured photo courtesy of Sen. Nya Twayen
