…As Incumbent LFA Veep Speaks of Accountability Problems
Incumbent Vice President for Administration, Pennoh Bestman, at the weekend said the Liberia Football Association lacks accounting principles. The statement came against the backdrop that stakeholders are yearning audit.
Addressing representatives of women football in the country, Pennoh said he had carved an accounting manual for use by the LFA, which was adapted by the executive committee, but added that Madam Wesley through the secretariat kept it in dustbin to date.
The regime of Madam Izeta Wesley, President of the Liberia Football Association and former cheering squad member, cum women youth chair of Invincible Eleven (IE), has been unable to to unite its staff and instill proper accounting.
The national league is poorly organized as winners at the end of the season are given post-dated cheques, while it is said that clubs operate in deficit, for what they earn at the end of the season cannot commensurate expenses just two matches, least to mention of the overall season’s expenses thereby dispiriting clubs and players alike and lowly motivating.
The clubs are unable to compete in international or CAF competitions after winning slots to represent the country. The national team is a celebrated minnow on the continent; in fact, the various national teams have since gone in slumber.
A well constructive program is lacking to take the game to the next level. The relationship between the LFA and the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MYS) is normally acrimonious, thus affecting the growth and development of the game. Again, FA vice Pennoh Bestman who has quite close to Izetta, recently lauded the LFA needs one will break the lasting jinx between the MYS and LFA. He said Izetta has failed to breach that gap. “You stakeholders need to elect someone who will mend fences between the two entities if football is to go forward; I believe Musa Bility has got a platform good enough to not only scout sponsorship for the game unite all stakeholders”, Pennoh said.
As elections of the Liberia Football Association (LFA) draws near, the president of the Liberia Association, Cllr. Izetta Wesley, is reported to have snubbed audit which her critics say stakeholders have been yarning for.
The camp of serious rival in the ensuing LFA contest for leadership positions says the attitude on the part of the incumbent leadership of the association has the propensity to deny stakeholders of their right to financial report.
It can be recalled that stakeholders, through the congress last September, mandated the LFA to conduct a comprehensive audit of the financial records of the football house before the pending March elections. However, it is incomprehensible that Madam Wesley and her acting secretarial undermined the decision of congress by what was considered as the LFA administration’s refusal to cooperate with auditors.
Since her ascendancy to the LFA, it is said that the LFA has never presented stakeholders any finial report. There are indications that some stakeholders are planning to make the incumbent the leadership of Madam Wesley to account for every penny she handled at the LFA.
During her more than six years of leadership as president, Madam Wesley reportedly has gone bankrupt as the LFA’s coffers at the Ecobank are virtually empty in the face of an annual US$250,000.0 and US$ 100,000.00 from the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) respectively.
As president, Madam Wesley is said to have been receiving such huge amounts, deciding how it is expended and approving its usage, without accountability - audit.
There is indeed hardship, which seem unending as long as the "iron lady" turned rubber lady remains at the apogee of such high profile football position. The future is therefore oblique, uninspiring and discouraging as there is no glamour of hope. Things have since gone haywire, hope have turned into despair, joys have turned into sorrow, success have turned into failure, the positives have become negatives, promotion have turned into retrogression and boom have turned into hardship.
With just few of the many problems catalogued, the critics of the Wesley administration say there is a need not to reelect the Izetta Wesley Administration on account of lack of accountability which has been impeding the country's football development.
The LFA head is said to be suffocating the growth of the game and is a serious embarrassment to the game's improvement and transformation that must be obliterated come at the post of the March 20, this year.
But attempts to get to Madam Wesley did not materialize; investigation continues
Friday, February 26, 2010
What Did Supt Bacon Tell House?
…Detained But Freed on Constitutional Ground
By: Bill K. Jarkloh
Email: billkjarkloh@gmail.com / jloplehdee@gmail.com
bill_ksolborjarkloh@yahoo.com
Call: + (231)-(0)77-544-286 / + (231)-(0)6-468-244
Weblogs: www.panwhanpen.com (panwhanpen.blogspot.com)
www.theperiscope.com /billkjarkloh.wordpress.com
Although detained with immediate effect in a common jail by the House of Representatives for an alleged chopping of development funds, Montserrado County Superintendent Beauty Bacon denied squandering development funds when she faced the Lower House of Legislature, putting the total covering projects she executed including the administrative bank charges at for the period of seven months US$105,099.
Madam Bacon, who was ordered incarcerated along with Bomi County Superintendent Mohammed Massaley Tuesday insisted that she applied the funds on development projects added that what she referred to as administrative bank charges to US$11,020.
“We convene a meeting in January 2009 where we have the citizens of Montserrado County deciding what they wanted to do; I have the resolution with me for that meeting here; Out of that meeting, we also realize that we could not leave outstanding projects that were incomplete from previous period – outstanding and left undone, and so we were requested through the Ministry of Internal Affairs to ensure that all projects be completed.
She indicated accordingly, “and so we consulted with the Honorable Legislators from Montserrado County and elected to complete those projects from the County Development Funds,” the Montserrado County Superintendent told the House shortly after they were incarcerated.
But dissatisfied with her exposé highlighting her accounting for development funds, the House of Representatives ordered that the county officials remain in detention for forty-eight hours. The House of Representatives also ordered the Development Superintendents Momolu Bass of Montserrado and Rebecca Benson of Bomi detained along with their bosses.
Also ordered detained by the House of Representative is the Coordinator of the County Development Funds at the Internal Affairs Ministry, Mr. Michael George. The House ordered the detention of the officials after it found them guilty of grossly violating Section 8 of the Budget Law of Liberia, against the unilateral expenditure of the County Development Funds, and act the House held the five executive local government officials on.
The House voted sixteen for, seven against and two abstentions to have the officials detained at the Monrovia Central Prison after hours of interrogation. The hearing was triggered by two separate letters of complaint by Montserrado Representative Thomas Fallah and Bomi Representative Tarnue Cooper.
During the hearing, Superintendent Bacon insisted she had the authority to expend the development funds without the approval of the Legislative Caucus. Appearing before the House, Montserrado County Superintendent Beauty Bacon insisted that the budget laws provided that she chair meeting as co-chairman in the absence of the Chairman to decide the development agenda of the county.
“According to the Budget Law, we are to convene a county Development/County Development Steering Council Meeting comprising of the traditional districts and communities of the County,” she pleaded her case, saying that the Montserrado Legislative Caucus should “…tell us the number of persons and then we plan the meeting together and convene it.”
However, Madam Bacon indicated, “From July August when the Budget was passed, we could not have the meeting into the busy schedule of the Legislator for Montserrado County; and as Superintendent and Co-Chairman according to the budget law, I saw it fit to chair in the absence of the Chairman or council.”
“We convene a meeting in January 2009 where we have the citizens of Montserrado County deciding what they wanted to do; I have the resolution with me for that meeting here,” she continued before the House of Representatives, she added
Accountability
Acting in the interest of the citizens of Montserrado County, she said her administration was able to construct a 10-compartment modern pit latrine in District No. 3 for US$7,000, a structure which she pronounced completed and was used by the community based on their demand before it was eventually demolished by the Special Presidential Taskforce.
Madam Bacon also said her administration has commenced and is continuing the development in the Borough of New Kru Town where the Town Hall Project costing US$20,000 is ongoing.
“We completed the Diggsville Town Hall Administration Building US$3,409 in District No.13; and in District 14- Todee District the Administration Building also was renovated and completed – we spent US$47670; in District N0. 5 in Rehab Community where we constructed four hand-pumps providing safe-drinking water for the people of that community in the tone of US$8,000 (project is 90 percent completed) except for the 5th remaining hand pump pending because of the lack of ideal space for its construction,” Superintendent further accounted.
She said a decision was reached through discussion and resolution to construct a clinic on the other side of the St. Paul River where we have no major public clinic covering from all the way Cheesemanburg to Virginia – so in the Town of Boduah there is a Public Clinic under Construction for US$37,000; In District No.4, the Catholic Hospital Community, we have a Hand Pump also constructed providing the safe-drinking water for the resident in that community for US$1,000.
“We also realized that having constructed administration buildings for townships and cities, it is important and useful to provide the requisite logistics for the offices for the building to be made functional; and as such we provided furniture and material for the City of Brewerville in District No. 13, the Township of Barnersville in District No. 8, Diggsville 13, Congo Town District Nos. 4 and 5, and New Georgia District No. 9.,” she maintained
The Montserrado County Superintendent stated further that she constructed a walkway connecting the side of the Administration Building in Bentol City US$2, 000; renovated two apartments to house and sheltered teachers that are to take assignment at renovated Frank Tolbert High School the costing US$5,500.
But members of the Montserrado Caucus who were in session contended that Superintendent Bacon delivered a document to the Plenary that is contrary to previous one she furnished the Caucus.
Beside, the Caucus also said Superintendent has tried to shift its argument which pointed to contradiction of the Budget Law Section 8 relating to the use of the County Development Funds.
Bomi Superintendent Massaley and his Assistant were held liable for expending the development funds without the involvement of the Legislative Caucus. The House has meanwhile asked the General Auditing Commission to conduct an audit of the County development funds of Montserrado and Bomi Counties.
Bomi County Senator Lahai Lansanah says the House of Representatives acted unconstitutionally to order the detention of his Superintendent and deputy.
Senator Lansanah told reporters the House has no authority to detain the officials following a hearing on the alleged violation of the budget law. According to him, the House can only detain people if the function of the Legislature is impeded.
Senator Lansanah said the decision of the House is out of bounds and a making of Speaker Alex Tyler. But Speaker Tyler told reporters the House acted within the law. Also, another Bomi lawmaker, Tarnue Cooper, whose letter led to the detention of the Bomi raised similar contention supporting Speaker Tyler, while the affected Superintendents said the House acted harshly.
However, Representatives Thomas Fallah of Montserrado and Zoe Pennoh of Grand Gedeh said the decision of the House was Constitutional.
Representatives Fallah and Pennoh argued any official who violates the law must be punished.
By: Bill K. Jarkloh
Email: billkjarkloh@gmail.com / jloplehdee@gmail.com
bill_ksolborjarkloh@yahoo.com
Call: + (231)-(0)77-544-286 / + (231)-(0)6-468-244
Weblogs: www.panwhanpen.com (panwhanpen.blogspot.com)
www.theperiscope.com /billkjarkloh.wordpress.com
Although detained with immediate effect in a common jail by the House of Representatives for an alleged chopping of development funds, Montserrado County Superintendent Beauty Bacon denied squandering development funds when she faced the Lower House of Legislature, putting the total covering projects she executed including the administrative bank charges at for the period of seven months US$105,099.
Madam Bacon, who was ordered incarcerated along with Bomi County Superintendent Mohammed Massaley Tuesday insisted that she applied the funds on development projects added that what she referred to as administrative bank charges to US$11,020.
“We convene a meeting in January 2009 where we have the citizens of Montserrado County deciding what they wanted to do; I have the resolution with me for that meeting here; Out of that meeting, we also realize that we could not leave outstanding projects that were incomplete from previous period – outstanding and left undone, and so we were requested through the Ministry of Internal Affairs to ensure that all projects be completed.
She indicated accordingly, “and so we consulted with the Honorable Legislators from Montserrado County and elected to complete those projects from the County Development Funds,” the Montserrado County Superintendent told the House shortly after they were incarcerated.
But dissatisfied with her exposé highlighting her accounting for development funds, the House of Representatives ordered that the county officials remain in detention for forty-eight hours. The House of Representatives also ordered the Development Superintendents Momolu Bass of Montserrado and Rebecca Benson of Bomi detained along with their bosses.
Also ordered detained by the House of Representative is the Coordinator of the County Development Funds at the Internal Affairs Ministry, Mr. Michael George. The House ordered the detention of the officials after it found them guilty of grossly violating Section 8 of the Budget Law of Liberia, against the unilateral expenditure of the County Development Funds, and act the House held the five executive local government officials on.
The House voted sixteen for, seven against and two abstentions to have the officials detained at the Monrovia Central Prison after hours of interrogation. The hearing was triggered by two separate letters of complaint by Montserrado Representative Thomas Fallah and Bomi Representative Tarnue Cooper.
During the hearing, Superintendent Bacon insisted she had the authority to expend the development funds without the approval of the Legislative Caucus. Appearing before the House, Montserrado County Superintendent Beauty Bacon insisted that the budget laws provided that she chair meeting as co-chairman in the absence of the Chairman to decide the development agenda of the county.
“According to the Budget Law, we are to convene a county Development/County Development Steering Council Meeting comprising of the traditional districts and communities of the County,” she pleaded her case, saying that the Montserrado Legislative Caucus should “…tell us the number of persons and then we plan the meeting together and convene it.”
However, Madam Bacon indicated, “From July August when the Budget was passed, we could not have the meeting into the busy schedule of the Legislator for Montserrado County; and as Superintendent and Co-Chairman according to the budget law, I saw it fit to chair in the absence of the Chairman or council.”
“We convene a meeting in January 2009 where we have the citizens of Montserrado County deciding what they wanted to do; I have the resolution with me for that meeting here,” she continued before the House of Representatives, she added
Accountability
Acting in the interest of the citizens of Montserrado County, she said her administration was able to construct a 10-compartment modern pit latrine in District No. 3 for US$7,000, a structure which she pronounced completed and was used by the community based on their demand before it was eventually demolished by the Special Presidential Taskforce.
Madam Bacon also said her administration has commenced and is continuing the development in the Borough of New Kru Town where the Town Hall Project costing US$20,000 is ongoing.
“We completed the Diggsville Town Hall Administration Building US$3,409 in District No.13; and in District 14- Todee District the Administration Building also was renovated and completed – we spent US$47670; in District N0. 5 in Rehab Community where we constructed four hand-pumps providing safe-drinking water for the people of that community in the tone of US$8,000 (project is 90 percent completed) except for the 5th remaining hand pump pending because of the lack of ideal space for its construction,” Superintendent further accounted.
She said a decision was reached through discussion and resolution to construct a clinic on the other side of the St. Paul River where we have no major public clinic covering from all the way Cheesemanburg to Virginia – so in the Town of Boduah there is a Public Clinic under Construction for US$37,000; In District No.4, the Catholic Hospital Community, we have a Hand Pump also constructed providing the safe-drinking water for the resident in that community for US$1,000.
“We also realized that having constructed administration buildings for townships and cities, it is important and useful to provide the requisite logistics for the offices for the building to be made functional; and as such we provided furniture and material for the City of Brewerville in District No. 13, the Township of Barnersville in District No. 8, Diggsville 13, Congo Town District Nos. 4 and 5, and New Georgia District No. 9.,” she maintained
The Montserrado County Superintendent stated further that she constructed a walkway connecting the side of the Administration Building in Bentol City US$2, 000; renovated two apartments to house and sheltered teachers that are to take assignment at renovated Frank Tolbert High School the costing US$5,500.
But members of the Montserrado Caucus who were in session contended that Superintendent Bacon delivered a document to the Plenary that is contrary to previous one she furnished the Caucus.
Beside, the Caucus also said Superintendent has tried to shift its argument which pointed to contradiction of the Budget Law Section 8 relating to the use of the County Development Funds.
Bomi Superintendent Massaley and his Assistant were held liable for expending the development funds without the involvement of the Legislative Caucus. The House has meanwhile asked the General Auditing Commission to conduct an audit of the County development funds of Montserrado and Bomi Counties.
Bomi County Senator Lahai Lansanah says the House of Representatives acted unconstitutionally to order the detention of his Superintendent and deputy.
Senator Lansanah told reporters the House has no authority to detain the officials following a hearing on the alleged violation of the budget law. According to him, the House can only detain people if the function of the Legislature is impeded.
Senator Lansanah said the decision of the House is out of bounds and a making of Speaker Alex Tyler. But Speaker Tyler told reporters the House acted within the law. Also, another Bomi lawmaker, Tarnue Cooper, whose letter led to the detention of the Bomi raised similar contention supporting Speaker Tyler, while the affected Superintendents said the House acted harshly.
However, Representatives Thomas Fallah of Montserrado and Zoe Pennoh of Grand Gedeh said the decision of the House was Constitutional.
Representatives Fallah and Pennoh argued any official who violates the law must be punished.
What Did Supt Bacon Tell House?
…Detained But Freed on Constitutional Ground
By: Bill K. Jarkloh
Email: billkjarkloh@gmail.com / jloplehdee@gmail.com
bill_ksolborjarkloh@yahoo.com
Call: + (231)-(0)77-544-286 / + (231)-(0)6-468-244
Weblogs: www.panwhanpen.com (panwhanpen.blogspot.com)
www.theperiscope.com /billkjarkloh.wordpress.com
Although detained with immediate effect in a common jail by the House of Representatives for an alleged chopping of development funds, Montserrado County Superintendent Beauty Bacon denied squandering development funds when she faced the Lower House of Legislature, putting the total covering projects she executed including the administrative bank charges at for the period of seven months US$105,099.
Madam Bacon, who was ordered incarcerated along with Bomi County Superintendent Mohammed Massaley Tuesday insisted that she applied the funds on development projects added that what she referred to as administrative bank charges to US$11,020.
“We convene a meeting in January 2009 where we have the citizens of Montserrado County deciding what they wanted to do; I have the resolution with me for that meeting here; Out of that meeting, we also realize that we could not leave outstanding projects that were incomplete from previous period – outstanding and left undone, and so we were requested through the Ministry of Internal Affairs to ensure that all projects be completed.
She indicated accordingly, “and so we consulted with the Honorable Legislators from Montserrado County and elected to complete those projects from the County Development Funds,” the Montserrado County Superintendent told the House shortly after they were incarcerated.
But dissatisfied with her exposé highlighting her accounting for development funds, the House of Representatives ordered that the county officials remain in detention for forty-eight hours. The House of Representatives also ordered the Development Superintendents Momolu Bass of Montserrado and Rebecca Benson of Bomi detained along with their bosses.
Also ordered detained by the House of Representative is the Coordinator of the County Development Funds at the Internal Affairs Ministry, Mr. Michael George. The House ordered the detention of the officials after it found them guilty of grossly violating Section 8 of the Budget Law of Liberia, against the unilateral expenditure of the County Development Funds, and act the House held the five executive local government officials on.
The House voted sixteen for, seven against and two abstentions to have the officials detained at the Monrovia Central Prison after hours of interrogation. The hearing was triggered by two separate letters of complaint by Montserrado Representative Thomas Fallah and Bomi Representative Tarnue Cooper.
During the hearing, Superintendent Bacon insisted she had the authority to expend the development funds without the approval of the Legislative Caucus. Appearing before the House, Montserrado County Superintendent Beauty Bacon insisted that the budget laws provided that she chair meeting as co-chairman in the absence of the Chairman to decide the development agenda of the county.
“According to the Budget Law, we are to convene a county Development/County Development Steering Council Meeting comprising of the traditional districts and communities of the County,” she pleaded her case, saying that the Montserrado Legislative Caucus should “…tell us the number of persons and then we plan the meeting together and convene it.”
However, Madam Bacon indicated, “From July August when the Budget was passed, we could not have the meeting into the busy schedule of the Legislator for Montserrado County; and as Superintendent and Co-Chairman according to the budget law, I saw it fit to chair in the absence of the Chairman or council.”
“We convene a meeting in January 2009 where we have the citizens of Montserrado County deciding what they wanted to do; I have the resolution with me for that meeting here,” she continued before the House of Representatives, she added
Accountability
Acting in the interest of the citizens of Montserrado County, she said her administration was able to construct a 10-compartment modern pit latrine in District No. 3 for US$7,000, a structure which she pronounced completed and was used by the community based on their demand before it was eventually demolished by the Special Presidential Taskforce.
Madam Bacon also said her administration has commenced and is continuing the development in the Borough of New Kru Town where the Town Hall Project costing US$20,000 is ongoing.
“We completed the Diggsville Town Hall Administration Building US$3,409 in District No.13; and in District 14- Todee District the Administration Building also was renovated and completed – we spent US$47670; in District N0. 5 in Rehab Community where we constructed four hand-pumps providing safe-drinking water for the people of that community in the tone of US$8,000 (project is 90 percent completed) except for the 5th remaining hand pump pending because of the lack of ideal space for its construction,” Superintendent further accounted.
She said a decision was reached through discussion and resolution to construct a clinic on the other side of the St. Paul River where we have no major public clinic covering from all the way Cheesemanburg to Virginia – so in the Town of Boduah there is a Public Clinic under Construction for US$37,000; In District No.4, the Catholic Hospital Community, we have a Hand Pump also constructed providing the safe-drinking water for the resident in that community for US$1,000.
“We also realized that having constructed administration buildings for townships and cities, it is important and useful to provide the requisite logistics for the offices for the building to be made functional; and as such we provided furniture and material for the City of Brewerville in District No. 13, the Township of Barnersville in District No. 8, Diggsville 13, Congo Town District Nos. 4 and 5, and New Georgia District No. 9.,” she maintained
The Montserrado County Superintendent stated further that she constructed a walkway connecting the side of the Administration Building in Bentol City US$2, 000; renovated two apartments to house and sheltered teachers that are to take assignment at renovated Frank Tolbert High School the costing US$5,500.
But members of the Montserrado Caucus who were in session contended that Superintendent Bacon delivered a document to the Plenary that is contrary to previous one she furnished the Caucus.
Beside, the Caucus also said Superintendent has tried to shift its argument which pointed to contradiction of the Budget Law Section 8 relating to the use of the County Development Funds.
Bomi Superintendent Massaley and his Assistant were held liable for expending the development funds without the involvement of the Legislative Caucus. The House has meanwhile asked the General Auditing Commission to conduct an audit of the County development funds of Montserrado and Bomi Counties.
Bomi County Senator Lahai Lansanah says the House of Representatives acted unconstitutionally to order the detention of his Superintendent and deputy.
Senator Lansanah told reporters the House has no authority to detain the officials following a hearing on the alleged violation of the budget law. According to him, the House can only detain people if the function of the Legislature is impeded.
Senator Lansanah said the decision of the House is out of bounds and a making of Speaker Alex Tyler. But Speaker Tyler told reporters the House acted within the law. Also, another Bomi lawmaker, Tarnue Cooper, whose letter led to the detention of the Bomi raised similar contention supporting Speaker Tyler, while the affected Superintendents said the House acted harshly.
However, Representatives Thomas Fallah of Montserrado and Zoe Pennoh of Grand Gedeh said the decision of the House was Constitutional.
Representatives Fallah and Pennoh argued any official who violates the law must be punished.
China Union 2nd Amendment Gets First Reading
In more legislative business during this week, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has recommended to the National Legislatures what is considered a second amendment of the China Union Concession Agreement, for ratification, imploring the House to act on it.
In the amendment which has had its first reading g recently, the President wrote the National Legislature through the House of Representatives that Second Amendment of the Mineral Development Agreement, the MDA is between the Government of the Republic of Liberia and China Union Hong Kong Mining Company Limited and China Union Investment Liberia Bong Mines Company Limited dated January 19, 2009.
The President further said it is the government’s concern to introduce the China-Africa Development Fund (CAD) directly or through wholly owned subsidiaries of the shareholders of 85 percent of the outstanding shares of the concessionaires under the Mineral Development Agreement, the MDA, between the Government of the Republic of Liberia and China Union Investment Liberia.
The parties agree that the Mineral Development Agreement, President Sirleaf said in the communication, remain in full force and effect provided that the performance of the of the obligations of all parties under the agreement are hereby deemed to be suspended from the execution of the MDA and the first amendment respectively until the effective date of this second amendment except for the payment of the first installment of the off front payment.
According to the communication, this Second Amendment made to concession agreement has not substantially or materially change the agreement as to the risks allocated by the body.
“All legal issues made in the original agreement are being preserved. I wish to inform the Honorable Legislature that when this second amendment is ratified, concessionaire will rehabilitate infrastructure and operational facilities at Bong Mines including the Port, the Railroad, the Kataka – Bong Mines highway and will also create jobs and other economic and social benefits for our people, especially in the mid western region of our country,” she said.
She therefore urged your assistance in having this second amendment to the agreement ratified to accelerate the operation of the concessionaire through our nation’s recovery process.
By: Bill K. Jarkloh
Email: billkjarkloh@gmail.com / jloplehdee@gmail.com
bill_ksolborjarkloh@yahoo.com
Call: + (231)-(0)77-544-286 / + (231)-(0)6-468-244
Weblogs: www.panwhanpen.com (panwhanpen.blogspot.com)
www.theperiscope.com /billkjarkloh.wordpress.com
Although detained with immediate effect in a common jail by the House of Representatives for an alleged chopping of development funds, Montserrado County Superintendent Beauty Bacon denied squandering development funds when she faced the Lower House of Legislature, putting the total covering projects she executed including the administrative bank charges at for the period of seven months US$105,099.
Madam Bacon, who was ordered incarcerated along with Bomi County Superintendent Mohammed Massaley Tuesday insisted that she applied the funds on development projects added that what she referred to as administrative bank charges to US$11,020.
“We convene a meeting in January 2009 where we have the citizens of Montserrado County deciding what they wanted to do; I have the resolution with me for that meeting here; Out of that meeting, we also realize that we could not leave outstanding projects that were incomplete from previous period – outstanding and left undone, and so we were requested through the Ministry of Internal Affairs to ensure that all projects be completed.
She indicated accordingly, “and so we consulted with the Honorable Legislators from Montserrado County and elected to complete those projects from the County Development Funds,” the Montserrado County Superintendent told the House shortly after they were incarcerated.
But dissatisfied with her exposé highlighting her accounting for development funds, the House of Representatives ordered that the county officials remain in detention for forty-eight hours. The House of Representatives also ordered the Development Superintendents Momolu Bass of Montserrado and Rebecca Benson of Bomi detained along with their bosses.
Also ordered detained by the House of Representative is the Coordinator of the County Development Funds at the Internal Affairs Ministry, Mr. Michael George. The House ordered the detention of the officials after it found them guilty of grossly violating Section 8 of the Budget Law of Liberia, against the unilateral expenditure of the County Development Funds, and act the House held the five executive local government officials on.
The House voted sixteen for, seven against and two abstentions to have the officials detained at the Monrovia Central Prison after hours of interrogation. The hearing was triggered by two separate letters of complaint by Montserrado Representative Thomas Fallah and Bomi Representative Tarnue Cooper.
During the hearing, Superintendent Bacon insisted she had the authority to expend the development funds without the approval of the Legislative Caucus. Appearing before the House, Montserrado County Superintendent Beauty Bacon insisted that the budget laws provided that she chair meeting as co-chairman in the absence of the Chairman to decide the development agenda of the county.
“According to the Budget Law, we are to convene a county Development/County Development Steering Council Meeting comprising of the traditional districts and communities of the County,” she pleaded her case, saying that the Montserrado Legislative Caucus should “…tell us the number of persons and then we plan the meeting together and convene it.”
However, Madam Bacon indicated, “From July August when the Budget was passed, we could not have the meeting into the busy schedule of the Legislator for Montserrado County; and as Superintendent and Co-Chairman according to the budget law, I saw it fit to chair in the absence of the Chairman or council.”
“We convene a meeting in January 2009 where we have the citizens of Montserrado County deciding what they wanted to do; I have the resolution with me for that meeting here,” she continued before the House of Representatives, she added
Accountability
Acting in the interest of the citizens of Montserrado County, she said her administration was able to construct a 10-compartment modern pit latrine in District No. 3 for US$7,000, a structure which she pronounced completed and was used by the community based on their demand before it was eventually demolished by the Special Presidential Taskforce.
Madam Bacon also said her administration has commenced and is continuing the development in the Borough of New Kru Town where the Town Hall Project costing US$20,000 is ongoing.
“We completed the Diggsville Town Hall Administration Building US$3,409 in District No.13; and in District 14- Todee District the Administration Building also was renovated and completed – we spent US$47670; in District N0. 5 in Rehab Community where we constructed four hand-pumps providing safe-drinking water for the people of that community in the tone of US$8,000 (project is 90 percent completed) except for the 5th remaining hand pump pending because of the lack of ideal space for its construction,” Superintendent further accounted.
She said a decision was reached through discussion and resolution to construct a clinic on the other side of the St. Paul River where we have no major public clinic covering from all the way Cheesemanburg to Virginia – so in the Town of Boduah there is a Public Clinic under Construction for US$37,000; In District No.4, the Catholic Hospital Community, we have a Hand Pump also constructed providing the safe-drinking water for the resident in that community for US$1,000.
“We also realized that having constructed administration buildings for townships and cities, it is important and useful to provide the requisite logistics for the offices for the building to be made functional; and as such we provided furniture and material for the City of Brewerville in District No. 13, the Township of Barnersville in District No. 8, Diggsville 13, Congo Town District Nos. 4 and 5, and New Georgia District No. 9.,” she maintained
The Montserrado County Superintendent stated further that she constructed a walkway connecting the side of the Administration Building in Bentol City US$2, 000; renovated two apartments to house and sheltered teachers that are to take assignment at renovated Frank Tolbert High School the costing US$5,500.
But members of the Montserrado Caucus who were in session contended that Superintendent Bacon delivered a document to the Plenary that is contrary to previous one she furnished the Caucus.
Beside, the Caucus also said Superintendent has tried to shift its argument which pointed to contradiction of the Budget Law Section 8 relating to the use of the County Development Funds.
Bomi Superintendent Massaley and his Assistant were held liable for expending the development funds without the involvement of the Legislative Caucus. The House has meanwhile asked the General Auditing Commission to conduct an audit of the County development funds of Montserrado and Bomi Counties.
Bomi County Senator Lahai Lansanah says the House of Representatives acted unconstitutionally to order the detention of his Superintendent and deputy.
Senator Lansanah told reporters the House has no authority to detain the officials following a hearing on the alleged violation of the budget law. According to him, the House can only detain people if the function of the Legislature is impeded.
Senator Lansanah said the decision of the House is out of bounds and a making of Speaker Alex Tyler. But Speaker Tyler told reporters the House acted within the law. Also, another Bomi lawmaker, Tarnue Cooper, whose letter led to the detention of the Bomi raised similar contention supporting Speaker Tyler, while the affected Superintendents said the House acted harshly.
However, Representatives Thomas Fallah of Montserrado and Zoe Pennoh of Grand Gedeh said the decision of the House was Constitutional.
Representatives Fallah and Pennoh argued any official who violates the law must be punished.
China Union 2nd Amendment Gets First Reading
In more legislative business during this week, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has recommended to the National Legislatures what is considered a second amendment of the China Union Concession Agreement, for ratification, imploring the House to act on it.
In the amendment which has had its first reading g recently, the President wrote the National Legislature through the House of Representatives that Second Amendment of the Mineral Development Agreement, the MDA is between the Government of the Republic of Liberia and China Union Hong Kong Mining Company Limited and China Union Investment Liberia Bong Mines Company Limited dated January 19, 2009.
The President further said it is the government’s concern to introduce the China-Africa Development Fund (CAD) directly or through wholly owned subsidiaries of the shareholders of 85 percent of the outstanding shares of the concessionaires under the Mineral Development Agreement, the MDA, between the Government of the Republic of Liberia and China Union Investment Liberia.
The parties agree that the Mineral Development Agreement, President Sirleaf said in the communication, remain in full force and effect provided that the performance of the of the obligations of all parties under the agreement are hereby deemed to be suspended from the execution of the MDA and the first amendment respectively until the effective date of this second amendment except for the payment of the first installment of the off front payment.
According to the communication, this Second Amendment made to concession agreement has not substantially or materially change the agreement as to the risks allocated by the body.
“All legal issues made in the original agreement are being preserved. I wish to inform the Honorable Legislature that when this second amendment is ratified, concessionaire will rehabilitate infrastructure and operational facilities at Bong Mines including the Port, the Railroad, the Kataka – Bong Mines highway and will also create jobs and other economic and social benefits for our people, especially in the mid western region of our country,” she said.
She therefore urged your assistance in having this second amendment to the agreement ratified to accelerate the operation of the concessionaire through our nation’s recovery process.
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