Monrovia – Amid his reluctance to declare his assets as required by law, President George Manneh Weah, has embarked on the construction of his dream home and at the same time about to reconstruct his 9th Street property while construction works are also ongoing at his Thinkers Village Jamaica Resort – all happening together.
Report by Lennart Dodoo, [email protected]
President Weah last declared his assets in 2005 when he contested the presidency but lost to Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. Calls have been mounting for a new declaration since he was sworn in as President on January 22, 2018 in the spirit of curbing corruption, ensuring accountability and transparency, but with more than 40 days in office, the President is yet to comply, neither have any of his appointed officials.
Last Friday, Mr. Lenn Eugene Nagbe, Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, said at a news conference last Friday, that the President still has time within the statutory timeline to declare his assets.
In an exclusive interview, the Chairman of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), Cllr. James N. Verdier told ForntPageAfrica in January that per the regulations regarding assets declaration, officials are to declare their assets to the LACC within 30 days after their confirmation.
Section 10.1 of the revised Code of Conduct referencing declaration of Assets and Performance Bonds states: “Every public official and employee of government involved in making decisions affecting contracting, tendering or procurement, and issuance of licenses of various types shall sign performance or financial bonds and shall, in addition, declare his or her income, assets and liabilities prior to taking office and thereafter: (a) at the end of every three years; (b) on promotion or progression from one level to another; (c) upon transfer to another public office; and (d) upon retirement or resignation.”
Many had believed that President Weah would lead by example, especially when he said in his inaugural address – “Those chosen to serve will and must be dedicated to the ideas of grassroots, social transformation. Any person looking to cheat the Liberian people through the menace of corruption will have no place in my administration”.
But while the public gnash their teeth in eagerness for the President’s assets to be declared and that of his officials, the President has kicked off a facelift spree of his properties in and outside Monrovia.
His US$150,000 9th Street beach-side structure was demolished last Thursday. While it is unclear what the President intends to construct at the 9th Street, one source told FrontPageAfrica that the facility is being transformed into a hotel. The 9th Street residence served as home for many of his youthful and loyal supporters. President Weah is also constructing his dream house off the Robertsfield Highway just opposite the Baptist Seminary.
Jamaica Beach resort which is also receiving a facelift is a private non-domicile residence of President Weah.
He often used the area for relaxation purposes prior to becoming President. During the presidential campaign, the resort was used for holding private strategic meetings.
The President’s move has sparked a lot in the country and even amongst Liberians in the diaspora following the trend of events. It has also become a trending topic on social media, especially Facebook.
Boakai Jaleiba who served as an Assistant Minister in the Sirleaf-led government posted to Facebook: “Pres. George Weah is doing something formidable.
He’s demolishing his old home to build a new one. Time flies so designs have changed and he has to situate himself to the contemporary situation. Kudos! “However, his project has been marred by an intense debate on social media with critics thinking that asset declaration should have preceded such a major project. Whilst I appreciate his new development, I agree with the critics.”
“Asset declaration may have removed some of the doubts, especially which this is occurring less than two months of his presidency. Besides, this is a building that was in ruins for almost a decade and perhaps never experienced any renovation. Whatever the case is, I’m happy for our country. I’m especially happy for President Weah. A new building will be going up soon!”
Moses Uneh Yamiah also posted to Facebook:
“With not more than two months as President of Liberia, George Manneh Weah demolishes his 9th Street residence to be rebuilt with immediate effect.
If someone will argue that it is the President’s personal money, then I ask the question:
‘Why didn’t the President rebuild his house with his personal money long before he could get hold of the national treasury?
If people will argue that his millionaire friends are doing so, why now for such gesture? Spare me those cranks!!! Based on logical inference, we can simply conclude that the President’s abandoned villa will be rebuilt at the expense of tax dollars.
“No wonder why the chap refused to declare his assets as it is required by law. No wonder why he refused to mandate members of his cabinet to declare their assets…”
While questions are being raised over the simultaneous construction and renovation of several properties belonging to President Weah less than 100 days into his presidency, Information Minister Nagbe said the plan for the demolishing of the 9th Street property and other constructions had been in the making since 2017 but was paused by Mr. Weah due to the electoral process.
“It is good that he is doing it now because if he had waited for one year they will say he has stolen the government’s money that is what he is using to develop his property but since he became President he has not taken pay. So, nobody will say that he is using government’s money,” Nagbe said.
He said President Weah is putting all of his assets together so that when he is presenting his asset he would do nothing else but the truth.
“We all know the President played in Italy, he played in Paris and other places, and he may have an asset in those places. So, that process is ongoing,” Nagbe told the media.
As President Weah is procrastinating on his assets declaration, outspoken opposition member, Abraham Darius Dillon, an executive of the Liberty Party, urged President Weah to law, noting, “Mr. President, you need to declare your assets.
The law mandates that you do so. You took oath to defend, protect and respect the Constitution and laws of Liberia. Asset Declaration after taking public office is law. Try to lead by example!”
President Weah’s 2005 declaration puts his overall income per annum at US$335,000.00 on properties in Liberia and the United States.
According to the declaration, he earned US$60,000 from his supermarket in Florida, USA; US$250,000 from real estate in the USA and US$25,000.00 from his real estate in Liberia.
President Weah in 2005 declared that his combined assets both in Liberia and the USA were more US$2.8 million. His residence in Florida, USA was said to worth US$1.5 million, while his Supermarket in Miami, Florida was said to worth US$1.2 million.
Documents obtained by FrontPageAfrica indicate that the Florida supermarket – Flavors West Indian Supermarket and Restaurant – which is registered in his wife’s name has been inactive.
His two residences in Liberia were said to be valued US$250,000, with the one in which he currently resides as President in the ELWA Rehab Road area outside Monrovia being put at US$100,000.
The demolished residence on 9 th Street in Sinkor, Monrovia was valued in 2005 at US$150,000. He, however, failed to state his bank balances in the declared assets.
Several years later, Weah in 2014 won the Senatorial elections and became Senator of Montserrado for three years until his election as President in December 2017, earning a monthly income of somewhere around US$15,000. His total worth as Senator for the three years is estimated to be US$540,000.