Monrovia – President George Manneh Weah is back flying the private jet given him by his ‘wealthy Burkinabe friend’ after playing it low for several months when the media, particularly FrontPageAfrica, raised concerns of conflict of interest and violation of the National Code of conduct.
Report by Lennart Dodoo, [email protected]
The jet was first spotted at the Roberts International Airport (RIA) in Liberia just after President Weah was inaugurated into office in January this year, thereby, raising several concerns among the public as to whether the President had purchased a new jet or renting same after describing the country’s economy as broken.
Having been out of sight in Liberia since May, President Weah on Thursday, November 15, 2018 returned from Paris, France where he had been attending the First Edition of the World Peace Forum on the same private jet.
FrontPage Africa has not been able to ascertain the place of departure where the President embarked the private jet for Liberia.
Inquiring on President Weah’s use of the private jet, FrontPageAfrica asked the Minister of Information, Lenn Eugene Nagbe:
“We observed that Pres. Weah returned today on the same private jet which his Burkinabe friend gave him to “boost his morale”. Not only did his acceptance of the jet violate the Code of Conduct but was also a conflict of interest as the government of Liberia was about to sign a road financing agreement with the owner of the jet. We want to know, are there new arrangements by which the President has started flying this same jet? If yes, what are those arrangements?”
Min. Nagbe in response said, “You already drew fallacious and untrue conclusions. So just publish them as usual, no need to seek my validation.”
FPA: “If my conclusions are fallacious and untrue, please provide me the rightful information, Sir.”
Weah Boosting Morale
When President Weah’s use of private jet was first reported by FPA in May, the President, recognizing the stir the report had caused in the public attempted to clarify the facts and circumstances.
The President said, “The airplane issue is causing problem. We don’t have a bus; how will we buy a $30 million plane? Where do they get this kind of news from? It is not possible for us to buy a plane for $30 million; we are just coming to office”, the President quipped.
“The airplane they are talking about is for my friend, who is the manager of a big company in Burkina Faso. He told me to use it anytime I want to travel because he has seen me use planes owned by Ivory Coast and others. He wants me use a plane that is not labeled to boost my moral, too,” the Liberian President added.
He reminded Liberians that he is a celebrity who has so many friends that are willing to help him in whatever way they can, adding that when someone decides to help him should not be an issue; as in the case of the private jet.
Violating The Code of Conduct
A FrontPageAfrica investigation identified the mystery wealthy Burkinabè businessman friend of Manneh Weah as businessman Mahamadou Bonkoungou, CEO of EBOMAF, a construction company in Burkina Faso.
It wasn’t long when another FrontPage Africa investigation unearthed that the Weah-led government was in a road financing agreement negotiation with EBOMAF while the President was using the owner’s private jet.
The US$420 million loan financing agreement is aimed at financing the design, construction, and supervision of road corridors in Monrovia (Somalia Drive-Kesselly Boulevard to Sinkor) and northeastern Liberia – Tappita-Zwedru Raod, including Toe Town to La Cote D’Ivoire and Zwedru-Greenville.”
The President came under fire for granting the US$420 million loan to his businessman friend whose planes he has been using for presidential trips and a clear violation of the code of conduct and a conflict of interest.
President Weah, in response to his critics told residents in Bong in June not to listen to the critics who he described as enemies of the state. “My people, don’t listen to those criticizing for lobbying for loans. Those doing so are enemies of the country. The loans I am taking will be able to complete the roads in three years. When I am asking partners for loans, any of them who tell me that they want complete the roads in six years, I can say no because I know in the next six years, if I don’t do anything for you, I will not be re-elected”
The President lamented that he feels bad about how his own people have begun to criticize what he is trying to do. “I can feel bad when my own people, who are from the slum community, criticizing me”. The elite people… I mean people who grew up from wealthy backgrounds) who served as presidents since 1847 failed and had not been critics like the manner I am being criticized.”