Harper, Maryland County – Serious financial crisis has hit the Harper City Corporation (HCC) as a result of secret withdrawals of funds from the institution account at Ecobank.
Report by George K. Momo/ 0880303757/[email protected]
Speaking to FrontPageAfrica in Harper, Maryland County, the Acting Mayor Isaac Weah said the HCC has uncovered a financial scandal in which US$2,250.00 was withdrawn from the institution account on May 24, 2016.
According to Weah prior to the May 23 secret withdrawal, a withdrawal of US$500.00 was also carried out on May 30, 2016 at Ecobank.
A bank statement in the possession of the acting city mayor revealed that indeed there has been some financial scandal related to the withdrawals of funds carried out allegedly by someone in top position of the past administration of the city corporation.
Weah however said, the HCC is indebted to ECOBANK in the tone of L49, 764.48 and a current balance of US$721.50.
The budget of US$50,000.00 given to the HCC remains confusing, the Harper City mayor said.
Weah further said some officials of the past regime credited vendors thousands of dollars in the name of the City Government. Something he said is not to the knowledge of the new administration.
He said the new administration under his watchful eyes, have not done any transaction with vendors as such those claiming that the Harper City Corporation owe them have to chase after the people who owe them not the new administration as there is no record available to authenticate their claims Weah stated.
“We have been informed by vendors that the past administration led by Mr. George A. Prowd now party Chairman of Liberia People Democratic Party (LPDP) owe them, but we the new acting officials of the HCC and even the city council have no idea of who owe vendors”.
For his part, the Harper City council Chairperson Rev. George K. Monbo in an interview with this paper in Harper said the city council is astonished over the information and vowed to probe into the alleged scandal at the HCC.
The question is how was the money withdrawn from HCC account without the council approval? We must probe into this situation and all of those involved will definitely face the full weight of the law Rev. Monbo pointed out.
Meanwhile, the Harper City Corporation has reduced her work force from 34 to 24 affecting those in administration as a result of the current financial crisis which has placed the HCC in a complete state of dilemma making her unable to pay her staff for some 2 -3 months now.
The Harper City Council however appealed to the 10 staff to remain home and return to work when the HCC financial strength returns to starter code.