MONROVIA – The African Union Commission has called on the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to help find the whereabouts of three Liberians who were granted training opportunity by the Government of South Korea through its International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), but absconded after the training.
Report by Lennart Dodoo, [email protected]
Documents in possession of this paper show that Liberia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, upon request sent a group of 12 from the Liberia Revenue Agency (LRA), Ministry of Finance and Development Planning and the Liberia Immigration Service to South Korea for a short-term training in Trade Facilitation through Modernization of Administration in Customs. The training was held from September 2 to September 15, 2018.
The training was meant to enhance the capacity of public sector technicians to improve services.
However, beneficiaries representing the LRA, this paper has gathered, never worked with the LRA, leaving many wondering how come they formed part of the training intended for employees of the government.
Speaking to FrontPageAfrica on the issue, Mr. D K. Singbe said at no point in time did the LRA have in its employ any Foromo Bavogui, Assistant Commissioner of Customs; Mawa K. Cudjoe, Policy and Tecnhical Operations Officer and Watta M. Sheriff, Port Operations Officer.
The trio, according to the documents in our possession absconded after the training leading the government of South Korea to seek AU assistance in finding their whereabouts.
“From the training, three participants, namely, Foromo Bavogui, Wata M. Sheriff and Mawa K. Cudjoe from Liberia have not taken their flights arranged for their return from Korea and our office has no information on their return to their home country after completing the training.
“KOICA informs the current situation and requests the support of your Commission. We will be appreciative if the AU investigates that the trainees had another flight back to their home country.” The communication was signed by Deng Ho Kim, Country Director, Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is yet to comment on the situation.