THE GEORGE WEAH-LED government is racing against time to restore credibility in the wake of numerous contradictions and various explanations regarding the missing billions local currency controversy.
DESPITE EXPLANATION from the Central Bank of Liberia that it can account for all of the missing billions, many Liberians and at least one lawmaker, appear skeptical and demanding proof and challenging authorities of the Central Bank of Liberia that in order for him to believe their “no money missing” story, Executive Governor Nathaniel Patray should take lawmakers to see for themselves what’s the balance in the vaults of the Bank.
REP. SOLOMON GEORGE( District No. 7, Montserrado County) said last week: “This governor is saying they audited the papers and yes the money was taken to the vaults. We are requesting as the people’s representatives can you take us to where the money is being kept? We heard the money was brought in containers and bags, so take us to see the billions in the vaults.”
THE DISTRUST in the government is also being compounded by the appointment of some members of the committee established by President Weah to look into the matter.
MR. Alex Cuffy has been struggling to shrug off criticisms bordering conflict of interest and dodgy characterization.
CUFFY IS THE BROTHER of Madam Celia Cuffy Brown, who was acting head of the National Port Authority (NPA) when billions of local currencies reportedly came into the country.
MR. CUFFY while addressing the controversy last week, said they the investigative team had no objection to the statement made by the CBL that no money was missing. “We interpose no objection to the matter. I think it was a good statement. As a matter of fact, if a group of people gives you something to keep for us and someone comes and says it is lost, it is only fair to come and say something.”
DISTRUST HAS been further heightened after the investigative team declared last week that the investigative team has the capacity to adequately conduct the investigation without the help of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) International Monitory Fund (IMF), and others that were previously invited to participate in the investigation are welcomed.
ALL THIS AFTER President Weah and senior members of his government in a bid to convince international stakeholders that they were serious about getting to the bottom of the scandal, announced that it had requested the United States’ Department of Treasury and Federal Bureau of Investigation to help in the ongoing probe of L$16 billion that has been reported missing.
THE MINISTRY of Justice, on Wednesday, September 19, 2018, in a signed statement, said that “the investigation is for the purpose of adequately accounting for all flows of monies printed and brought into the country between 2016 and 2018.”
LAST WEEK, Cuffy struggled to convince Liberians to take the probe seriously. “We consider this as a patriotic call to duty and we will deliver on our mandate provided we receive maximum cooperation from the government, the public as well as the needed funds to support the process,” Mr. Cuffy said.
MR. CHARLES GIBSON, another member of the investigative team, representing the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission added: “We have the expertise and capacity, but we want the public to have patience, trust and wait for the report from the investigation. We are asking the public to work with us, including the media, to give us any information that could help us get to the bottom of this investigation.”
THE FACT OF THE MATTER is the media has done what it can to bring this issue to light. Sadly, President Weah chose to go on record to insinuate that the media has overblown the missing billions saga – even open declaring that no money is missing.
THIS BEGS THE QUESTION. Why is there even a team of local investigators even bothering to proceed with an investigation.
THE OMISSION OF THE FBI and other international bodies in this investigation clearly feeds into the belief of a majority of Liberians that the government has something to hide and is therefore hiding behind an investigative committee comprising figures with tainted characters, in a bid to convince the world of what the government already believes and has concluded – that there is no missing billions.