Information Minister, Jerolinmek M. Piah says the Government of Liberia has not made any final decision regarding the acquisition of 285 earth moving equipment.
Addressing the Ministry of Information regular press briefing on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, Minister Piah said it was a presentation made at just ended cabinet retreat by the Minister of State without Portfolio, Mamaka Bility concerning work in progress to have earth moving equipment that will be deploy across the 15 counties and not a finalized agreement.
Piah stressed that the Boakai Administration will follow the right procedure that given to the Executive Branch to negotiate and secure agreement for the country, which he said is the process.
“What decision was taken before people started reacting to a report from cabinet meeting. Let me say to you that the process regarding how we will get the equipment. We will need to follow the legal process and communicate when it is consummated,” Minister Piah maintained.
According to him, the intent of the earth moving equipment is to have them deploy and when that is done consistent with the law, all across the 15 political sub-divisions maintenance zones will be re-established.
On Friday, May 24, 2024 at the EJS Ministerial Complex, the Minister of State without Portfolio, Mamaka Bility told participants at the Cabinet Retreat 285 earth moving equipment are expected in Liberia shortly.
She further disclosed that the equipment will be divided across the 15 counties with each county receiving 19 pieces.
She explained that as part of the initiative, the government will reactivate maintenance zones, which she added will be constructed across Liberia with assistance from the engineering department of the Armed Forces of Liberia.
Minister Bility fell short of providing details about the processes and source of funding of the road equipment.
The revelation by Bility created noise across various political divides with development economist, Samuel P. Jackson calling the deal a fraud.
Jackson suspected that the Boakai Administration has embarked on what he calls a fraudulent mission in the 285 earth moving equipment deal. He says the procurement of those equipment lacks transparency and mixed with fraud.
However, Minister Piah told reporters that any acquisition would be done legally and urged everyone to wait for the official conclusion of the process.
