Montserrado County Legislative Caucus has given the Government of Liberia a 48-hour ultimatum to restore the disbursement of Montserrado County Social Development Funds (SDF).
The social development fund is meant for the county and its people to undertake various developmental projects in their constituencies.
Addressing a press conference Monday, February 24, 2025, Representative Bernard Benson said the Caucus demands serious accountability for the Social Development Funds 2023/2024, which invites all concessionaires and mandates a comprehensive audit.
He said the caucus has not received its portion of the social development funds contrary to the statement made by President Joseph N. Boakai that all counties had received their portions of SDF during the recent State of the Nation Address.
“The Caucus wants to use this medium to inform members of their constituencies that they have never received any funds for social development and the caucus warns those government entities responsible for making this fund available to do so in the shortest possible time,” he said.
The lawmaker said their constituents are now holding them accountable for the funds they have yet to receive, adding that the president was misinformed that all counties have received their SDF.
“Quite recently, we were informed by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning that there was an allotment of US$500,000 for Montserrado County by Firestone, but only to be informed later that said amount had been redirected. Against this background, the Caucus calls on the Ministry of Finance to provide immediate information on all Social Development Funds remitted to Montserrado County,” he said.
Benson the failure of those responsible will leave them with no alternatives but to invite all concessionaires obligated to provide information about the SDF from 2023 to 2024, and the Caucus will hold a live public hearing with the concessionaires obligated to unearth shady deeds.
According to him, they will commission the General Auditing Commission (GAC) to conduct a comprehensive audit of the amount paid by concessionaires obligated to the government’s coffers for social development.
“Our people will draft and present a petition demanding overdue social development funds and the caucus will request a comprehensive financial statement of their account from the bank for 2023 and 2024,” he said.
The Montserrado lawmaker said the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development aims to alleviate poverty, create an enabling environment for the people to unlock many opportunities, and massively develop the nation, but a few people have refused to adhere to this quest, thus involving themselves in mismanagement and misplaced priorities.
He also said some counties have received their social development funds leaving Montserrado County out, and this proves that corruption is imminent and should stop immediately.
