MONROVIA – Montserrado County Senator and member of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change Saah Joseph has condemned the government for subscribing to the World Food Program (WFP) US$9 million charge for food distribution across the country to compensate for the lockdown imposed by the government to help curb the spread of COVID-19.
The CDC lawmaker express his disgust for the payment of the huge amount to the WFP on Facebook. He wrote:
“Colleagues, WFP’s $9m charge for 21 food distribution is totally unappealing. This should not be allowed to happen in a poor country like ours. This is not free money! It is a loan that we, the people of Liberia, must pay. #COVID19IsReal #StaySafe #SocialDistance #ProPoorMustSucceed.”
Senator Joseph is popular within the county and the CDC for his humanitarian gestures, especially during epidemics.
The disclosure of the WFP using US$9 million for administrative expenses was divulged to the Senate by Commerce Minister Wilson Tarpeh who also heads the special committee oversee the COVID-19 food and relief items distribution.
Minister Tarpeh explained to the Senate that of the USD$30 million, USD$20 million will go to food cost while USD$9 million will go toward the operational cost. This is the plan and distribution will begin this weekend. WFP has informed this committee that because of the road condition they will use sea transport to get to the southeast,” he said.
“Colleagues, WFP’s $9m charge for 21 food distribution is totally unappealing. This should not be allowed to happen in a poor country like ours. This is not free money! It is a loan that we, the people of Liberia, must pay. #COVID19IsReal #StaySafe #SocialDistance #ProPoorMustSucceed.”
Saah Joseph, Senator, Montserrado County
Senator Abraham Darius Dillon also of Montserrado County, on Saturday criticized the move with a Facebook post, claiming that something was fishy about it.
But the Government responded to Senator Dillon claiming that his post on Facebook was a “diabolical lie” and an attempt by the opposition bloc to derail the progress of the government.
Minister Eugene Nagbe told FrontPagAfrica that the fund would be in the total control of the World Food Program which would spearhead the food distribution.
Accordingly, the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) has instructed the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) to move US$25 million from the government’s account to the WFP to begin the implementation of the distribution.
The instruction from the Finance Ministry to the Central Bank, a copy of which FrontPageAfrica has obtained was prepared on June 11. It is expected that the transfer of the amount would be made on June 15.
Minister Eugene Nagbe said the government remains focused on rallying and receiving international support to mitigate the negative impact of COVID-19 on the citizens.
“The fact of the matter is that the government has transferred USD25 Million from the GOL Consolidated accounts at the Central Bank of Liberia to the World Food Program to implement the food support program.
“So, all this is a diabolical lie coming from Senator Dillon and other opposition leaders whose nasty politicking knows no bounds even in the wake of a national calamity like the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Minister Nagbe also disclosed that the government has requested the World Bank and the WFP to refute the claims of the opposition, which he said is baseless.