MONROVIA – Leaked audio recordings in possession of FrontPageAfrica reveal how the National Housing Authority (NHA), apparently in cohort with some big shots in government, extorted thousands of United States dollars from a Burkinabe investor seeking to build 5,000 housing units in Liberia for low income earners.
Report by Lennart Dodoo, [email protected]
In therecording, the representative of GELPAZ in Liberia, Augustus Weah who is alsothe vice president of the company, alleged that NHA Managing Director Mr.Duanah Siryon had requested kickback in the tone of US$160,000 for NHA,US$100,000 for Justice Minister, US$100,000 for Nathaniel McGill and US$100,000for Finance Minister before the contract can be consummated.
According to Weah, he negotiated with Siryon that they (GELPAZ) did not have that amount of money on hand but had made some transfer via LBDI Bank and could produce US$80,000 to be split between Minister McGill, his team and the NHA.
“After that the US$80,000 was presented to Duanah Siryon, and he told me ‘I’ll give you US$20,000 to keep and I’ll take the US$60,000 to McGill to disburse.’,” Weah is heard saying the leaked audio.
Weah further alleged that the NHA Managing Director requested and was offered a percentage in the construction, but pleaded that such would be kept secret from his principal deputies.
Weah was explaining to some employees of NHA after he received information that Siryon had accused him of receiving US$400,000 for President Weah (his cousin) and other members of the Executive branch for the consummation of the MOU in order for GELPAZ to start construction works. Weah had said he was confronted about the money by the President via a WhatsApp message when he was in Paris, France in September.
However, in another recording, Siryon is heard denying ever accusing Augustus Weah of receiving money for the President and challenged him to show proof of said accusation.
Siryon: “There has been no point in time that Gus (Augustus) gave me money to bring to y’all. Gus has the recordings, he has the videos if he brings it it’ll be good. There has been no point in time that I told the President that Gus received four hundred and some more thousand… There has been no point in time that Gus gave me money to give to y’all and I didn’t, besides the money that was given right here.”
However, Siryon is further heard in the recording saying he asked his source whether there was anything in the ‘excepted package’ for the “VIP”. “He said the package entails US$160,000 – so NHA, US$100,000; Justice, US$20,000 and two others, US$ 40,000. I said, did you send that amount? What about VIP?”
Siryonfurther said that he was informed by his source Augustus Weah had alleged thatMin. McGill gave him (Siryon) money for his team but he failed to do so.
Siryon then said in the exchange of messages between he and his source, he told his source to ask Augustus Weah how much was given to McGill, adding that he had called McGill who told him he did not receive any money.
He quoted his source as replying, “What I know is NHA – U$100,000; Justice – US$20,000,McGill – US$20,000 and Finance – US$20,000.”
Siryon: “So I went to McGill that evening, very angry and I said McGill what’s going on, did you receive money and you didn’t give it to me? Because someone is claiming that you have me money and I didn’t receive it. McGill said, ‘from where?’ I said ‘From Gus’, then he said, ‘Who’s Gus’, I said Augustus Weah, the cousin of the President. He said, no.”
The NHA MD further stated in the audio that Min. McGill right away called President Weah to inform him that Augustus Weah had been spreading information that they have received money.
Multiple attempts to attempt to get comments from get comments from Justice Minister Frank Musa Dean and Minister McGill proved futile.
However, the NHA Managing Director, Siryon, denied the recording and described it as doctored.
“I just got the doctored recording. That doesn’t represent me. Dime I have not taken from any Investor to sign a contract. I will be having a press conference tomorrow morning along with the company (Gelpaz) president. Clarity will be made by him,” he told FrontPage Africa.
In early October this year, the NHA signed an MOU with GELPAZ for the construction of 5000 low cost housing units, at least 500 units to start with, spreading in two communities of Memeh Town, near Ricks Institute and VOA in Brewerville, Montserrado County, respectively. Two other areas to be targeted are along the Robertsfield Highway – Sarpawein or Tower Hill and the Schefillin Town.
The construction, according to the NHA would be done on an additional 12.5 acres of land to add up to the already owned 12.5 acres of land in the VOA area.
The NHA disclosed that it is developing the first 12.5 acres of land where it is to resettle about 64 family members of the West Point sea erosion victims in their temporary settlement in VOA, Brewerville.
“That project will be a sub-division and will be a Development of approximately 300 to 400 housing units in four categories and we are excited about the volunteering spirit of our people of Memeh Town; working and clearing the land where the project will be done,” an NHA release stated.
The press release at the time stated that a tripartite arrangement with the LBDI, NHA and GELPAZ – Liberia that has to do with the mortgage arrangement was currently being reviewed by the Liberia Bank for Development and Investment (LBDI).