MONROVIA – The Government of the United States of America has not been taking the awarding of Ground Handling contract at the Roberts International Airport (RIA) to a Jordanian company lightly, taking security issues into consideration, FrontPageAfrica has gathered.
A source familiar with the developments surrounding the contract informed FrontPageAfrica that the Liberian government was forced to abort the contract based on series of concerns raised by the U.S. government.
The Americans fear, according to our source, is not only the manner in which the contract was granted without due diligence, but there could be radicalized Jordanians who could penetrate and bypass security protocols at the airport, thereby putting the lives of travelers at risk.
Fly Liberia Inc., the Jordanian company, which was awarded the contract, was incorporated in Liberia on January 30, 2019. The incorporators are listed as Sami Allah Hassan Shraim, Basil Aref Mohammad Obeidat, Mohammad Sami Awadallah Shraim and Mohammad Hussein Mohammad.
The contract between the Government of Liberia through the Liberia Airport Authority (LAA) and Fly Liberia Inc. was signed on February 2 – just a couple of days after the incorporation of the company.
Minutes from the LAA’s February 2 Emergency Board Meeting in the possession of FrontPageAfrica, suggests that the contract was signed based on the mandate of Mr. Charles Bright, Economic Advisor to the President. His mandate came in the midst of several concerns surrounding the agreement raised by the Board and the management of the LAA.
The contract as originally drafted stipulated that company would have a 10-year land right at the RIA on which they will pay 10 percent royalty. Fly Liberia would also be expected to retain all employees in the department (cargo section), investment US$5 million in equipment and pay license fee of US$3 million ($1.5M to be paid up-front and the remaining US$1.5 paid over the period of the contract (10 years).
However, when presented to the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs for the perusal of the President, President George Weah, according to the minutes, maintained the land right at 10 years, but slashed the royalty from 10 per cent to 5 percent. The President also changed the nomenclature of the license fees to Concession Administrative fees.
At the February 2 emergency Board Meeting, which was reportedly held at the James Spriggs Payne Airport in Sinkor, Monrovia, the Managing Director of the Liberia Airport Authority at the time, Wil Bako Freeman, read an email from LAA’s lawyer advising management to do due diligence to the agreement.
According to the minutes, the lawyer whose name was not mentioned, complained that Fly Liberia Inc. at the time was yet to submit their business registration, article of incorporation, financial capability, track record of services provided and taxes paid.
The lawyer further advised the management of the LAA that given the gravity of the contract and the duration, management should ensure that all information and documentation on the company are submitted before signing the contact.
Upon reading the email the from the lawyer, the Managing Director at the time, also read another from Charles Bright advising the Chairman of the Board and the Secretary to sign the agreement and same should be forwarded to the Ministers of Finance and Justice to also affix their signatures.
Mr. Freeman informed members of the Board that at 3:20pm of the day of the meeting, he received an email from the Jordanian company acknowledging receipt of request of their profile and that their lawyers were going to file the documents.
According to the minutes, Mr. Samuel Wlue, Minister of Transport, who is also a member of the Board, expressed concern that from all indications, the contract was beyond the Board and therefore, recommended that the Chairman signed it and forward to the Ministers of Justice and Finance.
He cautioned, however, that the pitfalls of the contract should be known in the letter of transmittal attached.
The Managing Director of the LAA expressed concerns over the loses the LAA could incur as a result of signing the such contract with Fly Liberia.
Mr. Freeman resigned shortly after the signing of the contract. He, however, did not provide reasons for his sudden resignation.
Multiple sources speaking to FrontPageAfrica on condition of anonymity, said Mr. Freeman was pressured to resign his position reportedly over his reluctance to sign the Ground Handling Agreement.
Fly Liberia – Weah’s Interest
In an earlier Board Meeting held on January 30, 2019, the same day Fly Liberia (Fly Jordan) was incorporated, the Chairman of the LAA Board at the time, Bishop J. Allan Klayee briefed the Board that he was called by President Weah to the Executive Mansion on Friday, January 25, 2019 where he met Minister McGill, who informed him that Jordan Fly was to be considered for the Ground Handling Services Management contract on a single source basis.
According to the minutes, Chairman Klayee informed President Weah he could not reach a decision without the involvement of the Board.
The January 30, 2019 LAA Board Meeting’s Minutes further stated that the Chairman informed the President he had not received any information from Fly Jordan but he would take the contract to the Board and report back to him. “Accordingly, the President instructed Minister McGill to give to the Chairman copies of the Contract so that he can convene an emergency Board meeting in order to pass a Resolution to sign the contract,” the Minutes stated.