MONROVIA: It seems that the new administration of veteran politician, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, is seriously getting in strong love with ‘cars politics’ in the governance of the country.In yesteryears, ‘cars politics’ effectively characterized the governance of the country which population has been put at a little over 5 million.
During the reign of Charles Ghankay Taylor as President of Liberia, his erstwhile government purchased prestigious ISUZU Troopers for members of National Legislature despite worrisome public uproar.
Then came the era of Charles Gyude Bryant (late), a business tycoon and former Chairman of the erstwhile National Transitional government.
Chairman Bryant’s Transitional Government, during the Peace Accord era in 2004, purchased chains of Cherokee jeeps for its officials, most of whom represented the erstwhile armed warring factions, civil society and pro-democracy groups, among others.
The purchase of said vehicles by the transitional government, led by Bryant was vehemently condemned by the Liberian public including notable and powerful personalities such as Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former Chair of the Good Governance Commission (GC) in the transitional government.
Interestingly however, the regime of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf after she was elected to the coveted Liberian Presidency, was involved in similar and much-heralded ‘cars politics’ when it too purchased classic NISSAN PATROL Jeeps for its ruling elites.
The immediate past administration of ex-president George Manneh Weah was no less involved with ‘cars politics’ as many of his top officials embraced the purchase of luxurious, capital-intensive, and well-appointed vehicles, aimed at among others, ‘boosting their morale’ and self-esteem.
This is why many ordinary citizens whose precious vote led to the ascendancy of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung and others who campaigned during the 2023 Elections on a platform that was intended to rescue Liberians from abject and biting poverty are now troubled by the increasing desire of some, if not all state officials, to individually own and drive aristocratic cars and other globally latest vehicles.
Yet, the purchase of luxurious, classy, posh, and expensive vehicles for top officials of Liberia’s new political dispensation has raised widespread public concern and fury, with many citizens describing the move by the current administration as not only ‘waste and abuse of state resources but also reemergence of ‘cars politics’ following the 2023 Presidential and Legislative Elections.
During the 2023 Elections, the then opposition Unity Party (UP), now ruling party, accused the erstwhile administration of former President Weah of involvement in wasteful or over-the-top spending of limited state resources including public funds.
At the time, the then opposition party, UP, also accused consistently, then President Weah and many of his ex-officials of promoting luxurious lifestyles, at the expense of the vast majority of the country’s population who cannot afford US$2.00 a day.
Conversely, in just a period of nine months, according to critics, the new administration, led by veteran politician, Joseph Nyuma Boakai; and his Vice President, Jeremiah Kpan Koung, appear to have copied from the country’s past officials’ deluxe lifestyles as reflected in the quality of vehicles they use, multiple foreign trips with sundry delegations, among others.
The costs of vehicles being used by most top-level elites of the Boakai administration, according state-insiders, ranged from US$45,000 to a mouthwatering US$600,000.
Amid the ongoing brouhaha in the public sphere bordering on the apparent deluxe living standards of some, if not all top-level officials of the new political dispensation, another visibly embarrassing saga has sparked in the public domain.
It relates to, among others, the alleged recent purchase of two armored and non-armored vehicles for use by President Boakai and Vice President Koung at the cost US$1,123,000 is worrisome.
According to Ministry of Finance and Development Planning report on the US$15.7 million off-budget expenditure report 2024, the government of Liberia spent US$1,123,000 under the Executive Protection Service budget for the purchase of armored and unarmored vehicles for President Boakai and Vice President Jeremiah Koung.
As it stands, President Boakai’s armored car, Vice President Koung’s unarmored vehicle and Commerce Minister Modad’s vehicle would amount to a mouthwatering US$1.2 Million. The three vehicles were purchased by the nine-month old Boakai administration.
President Boakai and Vice President Koung vehicles cost US$1,123,000, while Commerce Minister’s vehicle is said to have valued US$100,000, which is amounted to over US$1.2 million.
Many critics accused the current government of having an initial plan to secure for its senior officials well-pointed vehicles for security and other reasons, in spite of the economic hardship in the country.
Although Minister Modad and LRA Boss, Dorbor Jallah, categorical refuted claims that the vehicle was purchased for US$150,000. Modad contended that the new vehicle which belongs to Commerce Ministry and not him, costs US$98,000 and not US$150,000.
Moreover, the government’s decision to spend a mouthwatering US$15.7 million off-budget has also sparked intense controversy, as the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), has announced a formal investigation into what has been characterized as “Off-budget Expenditure-FY2024,” that depicts “Major Sources of Transfer.”
The LACC probe has been triggered that by contentious expenses incurred by the current Unity Party-led Government, from January to August 2024.
The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) reported the off-budget expenditures, amounting to US$15, 731,813 million.
Speaking recently at a news conference, LACC Executive Chairperson, Cllr. Alexandra Zoe, expressed concern over the alleged off-budget spending by the Government of Liberia, totaling US$15.7 million.
Cllr. Zoe emphasized that the LACC takes these allegations seriously, as they are directly aligned with the Commission’s mission to uphold transparency and accountability.
“We take these allegations seriously, as they touch on matters that are core to our institutional objectives. Off-budget expenditures, if confirmed, can undermine public trust in governance, weaken fiscal discipline, and pose risks to the country’s financial integrity… As an institution charged with safeguarding public resources, we assure the public that we will leave no stone unturned in this investigation. If evidence of wrongdoing is found, we will take the necessary legal actions, including recommending sanctions, prosecutions, and other corrective measures,” Cllr. Zoe disclosed.
She assured the public that the LACC has initiated a preliminary review of the allegations, which will be followed by a comprehensive investigation to verify the claims, establish accountability, and ensure appropriate legal measures are taken.
Among the reported expenses, the government allocated US$2,307,609 for “unexplained miscellaneous” expenses and US$2.5 million for covert operations through the National Security Agency (NSA).
Additionally, the House of Representatives reportedly spent US$1.5 million on Special Sessions, while the Senate expended US$812,612 for similar purposes.
Other significant expenditures include: US$65,000 by the Ministry of State for the funeral of former Liberia Revenue Authority Commissioner General, Thomas Doe Nah; US$191,679 in contributions to the Muslim Community; US$30,880 for the funeral of Supreme Court Associate Justice, Joseph Nagbe; US$250,000 for completing the VIP lounge at the Roberts International Airport; US$28,000 for operational expenses of the Vice President’s Office; US$25,000 for the funeral of James Quiqui.
Further notable expenses were: US$41,667 by the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC), for fulfilling its mandate; US$61,062 for Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency’s operational costs; use of US$1,123,000 for purchase of armored and unarmored vehicles for the President and Vice President; US$250,000 for recovery operations by the National Disaster Management Agency for miners trapped in Rivercess County.
