Following a report of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s refusal to meet with Commerce Minister Amin Modad on late Tuesday, October 8, 2024, the minister has resigned his post amid his involvement in a US$96,000 vehicle purchase that has since brought him to public ridicule.
In Modad’s resignation letter to President Boakai on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, he said, “Over the last few days there has been public outcry over the purchase of a vehicle for over $45,000.00. Though I have provided all documentations and facts that equivocally demonstrate that there was no malfeasance, I am deeply concerned about the impact on my integrity and the administration; this continues to be a distraction from the real national issues and your agenda.”
Modad said he was tendering in his resignation as Minister of Commerce & Industry, a position that he ably served with integrity and passion for the past nine months, saying he and his family remain thankful to the president for the opportunity to serve the Liberian people.
Speaking later on Wednesday at a special cabinet meeting, President Boakai said a minister should be aware of the type of car he or she should ride.
“For now, even for a minister’s car, what is the maximum? I think we should be told. Let us know it, let the people know it so that we can govern ourselves,” Boakai said.
According to our reporter, while the special cabinet retreat was ongoing at the EJS Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, Minister Modad was seen driving out of the compound while other ministers were driving in to attend the event.
Employees of the Ministry of Commerce were also seen rejoicing over the situation as they believe the minister only resigned so as not to be dismissed by the president.
Modad’s resignation follows allegations of a customized vehicle purchase of a US$96,000 vehicle by the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) for his personal use.
The purchase of the customized vehicle is said to be in violation of the 2024 budget law which provides that: “All procurement of vehicles in this year 2024, except for the President, Vice President, Speaker, Pro-Tempore, and Deputy Speaker, and the Chief Justice of Liberia, shall not exceed US$45,000 at duty paid.”
Earlier reports claimed the cost of the vehicle was US$150, 000; however, the LRA in a release on September 23, 2024, clarified that it did not purchase a vehicle valued at US$ 150,000 as reported.
The LRA confirmed the approval of the Ministry of Commerce’s request in early May 2024 for US$96,000.00 from its Customs Capacity Building Fund under the Destination Inspection (ID) Contract held with MEDTECH Scientific Limited (MTS) for the purchase of vehicles to support the Ministry of Commerce.
According to LRA, the vehicles are intended for trade-related activities in collaboration with Customs. The specifications of the vehicles, as well as their deployment with the Ministry of Commerce, are determined by the Ministry of Commerce, not the LRA.
In contradiction, Minister Modad said that the vehicle in question was purchased for the Ministry of Commerce with payments made directly to the vendor and no funds passing through his ministry or personal accounts.
But he backed the LRA that the vehicle was not custom-made and was certainly not purchased for US$ 150,000, as claimed. “I’ve been using my vehicles, including an S-Class Mercedes, since I took office eight months ago, and I cover the costs of fuel and my driver’s salary myself,” he said.
By Prince Saah
