Monrovia – The House of Representatives has ordered an investigation into contractual negotiations on the financing agreement of the Roberts International Airport (RIA).
As part of the investigation, the Managing Director of the NPA Will Freeman has been cited to appear on June 3 to provide information to the lawmakers on the RIA runway rehabilitation process.
The lawmakers’ action comes in response to a communication written by Representative Clarence Massaquoi of Lofa County.
In his communication, Rep. Massaquoi stated that even though a US$57m loan was ratified by the Legislature, there still appears to be an imbroglio in the bidding process, which warrants an immediate investigation.
“It is my understanding that a first bid round involving three companies awarded the contract to a French company,” he write.
“Accordingly, a protest by one of the companies led to the panel instituting a second bid round of, this time, four companies, including a Chinese company, which eventually became the winner of the second bid round.
This second bid round, I have learnt, has led to one of the lenders withdrawing from the process”, the lawmaker indicated in his communication.
The Lofa County lawmaker said the withdrawal of one of the lenders has rendered the process incomplete and an investigation must go on into the matter.
“I therefore request that plenary authorizes an investigation into this matter. I further request that while this investigation is in progress, the relevant agency (RIA) should be asked to discontinue all contractual negotiation on this financing agreement”, he indicated.
The communication was briefly discussed in plenary and sent to committee room for possible action within the shortest time.
Meanwhile, Representative Massaquoi has written plenary to investigate the amount of money that has been borrowed since the inception of the Sirleaf government.
He stated that the investigation should cover all sectors that have benefitted for the borrowed monies, including specific ministries, agencies and commissions.
The investigation, according to the Lofa County UP lawmaker, should also include accessing the impacts of such investments on the citizenry.
“I am confident that this investigation will give us a better idea on how resources have been allocated and utilized, locally.
The findings of this assessment, I am sure, will put us in a better position to exercise oversight on resource mobilization and enable the executive branch of Government on future borrowings,” Representative Massaquoi said.
While the investigations are ongoing, the Lofa County lawmaker has asked plenary to call on the executive branch of Government to cease all contractual negotiations whose source of funding are based on financing agreement.
Since 2006, the Legislature has endorsed series of borrowing instruments that allowed the executive branch of Government to borrow money for varying development initiatives.
Henry Karmo (0886522495) [email protected]