Liberians Call for Thorough Investigation into Medtech-LRA-Commerce Controversial Deal Amid Modad’s Resignation

Monrovia – It has been nearly a week since former Commerce Minister Amin Modad resigned following controversy over the use of funds to purchase a luxury vehicle, which sparked public outrage and ultimately led to his resignation.

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By Yawah Jaivey, Franklin Doloquee and Perry B. Zordyu

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While many have welcomed the Minister’s decision to step down, some are urging the government, through President Joseph Boakai, to go beyond merely accepting the resignation and to launch a thorough investigation. Liberians from diverse backgrounds have been weighing in on the issue, and FrontPageAfrica spoke with a number of citizens to gather their perspectives.

Alvin M. Sumo, Teacher, Kakata: “That was the best thing that Amin Modad did because there was an allegation against him that he used governments’ funds to buy a vehicle that cost more than $90,000. If we look at the economic situation in the country, the Ministry of Commerce is supposed to regulate prices but we are seeing prices are still high and we are not seeing any action being taken by the Commerce Ministry. So, I think it was the best thing he did to resign instead of them sacking him. I think that would save his image a bit because if he was to be fired that could be bad for his character. I also appreciate the president for accepting his resignation and for the fact that the president accepted his resignation without a comment that means that the president was not really encouraged with the way the minister was serving because you see from the beginning the decision he took concerning the rice issue the president has to come to resent that decision. So, I think the president

Augustine T. Varney, Taxi Driver: “I appreciate the idea of Amin Modad resigning. As a citizen of this country, I would welcome his resignation but again the government needs to constitute a committee to investigate Amin Modad’s resignation to clear the citizens’ doubts. I believe president Boakai should go beyond Mr. Modad’s resignation and investigate him on the allegation against him so that the citizens can be aware of the outcome of what he has been accused of and this should serve as precedent for every other government official. I think this is welcoming for the Boakai’s administration because the fact that the public outcry caused Mr. Modad to resign means that the president is a listening president because I believe that he might have been pressured to resign by the president. People are watching the president and government because people don’t want to see what happened in the past because yesterday people cried about the behavior of some government officials and they were kept in their positions.

I believe President Boakai should go beyond Mr. Modad’s resignation and investigate him on the allegation against him so that the citizens can be aware of the outcome of what he has been accused of and this should serve as precedent for every other government official. I think this is welcoming for the Boakai administration because the fact that the public outcry caused Mr. Modad to resign means the President is a listening president. I believe that he [Modad] might have been pressured by the President to resign.

Augustine T. Varney, Taxi Driver

Papa David Sumo, Motorcyclist, Kakata, Margibi County: “For me I think Modad did the rightful thing to resign because the fact that the allegation against him of buying expensive car under a government that most of the citizens cannot have money to pay their children school fees or even feed themselves at home was a problem Liberians had with Modad. It was not a bad thing to resign but I think after his resignation the government needs to call Modad to ask him how he got the car and what is a salary that allows him to buy an expensive car. So, let Modad be questioned not just after his resignation but after his resignation. For Modad to resign under this government is not a good sign for the Boakai’s administration because looking at Boakai who is an experienced man we expect him to know who to put into power. For me, I don’t take this as a boost for president Boakai, especially a government that claimed that they came to power to rescue the people and this is a not government that came to power for people to buy e

Zack Mcarthur Delliah, resident of Kakata, Margibi County: “I take Modad’s resignation as an issue for this government because Amin Modad was one of the lead campaigners for Boakai ascendency to power and within nine months going into such a problem creates doubt for this government. So, it is a setback for this government for a key official like Amin Modad to send in his resignation to the president for issues that fall within their cycle. I think it is unfortunate that Liberians are yearning for jobs and people cannot get money to send their children to school and you are there in this short period of time trying to live a luxury life where people are struggling outside here—this shows a bad signal to the government. I think president Boakai should not just be accepting Mr. Modad’s resignation, but he should be audited because he did not just resign by himself but there was pressure that was mounted on him. This is embarrassing for the Boakia’s administration and it places dark cloud over this administration for

Levi Page, Resident of Kakata, Margibi County: “Amin Modad’s resignation came out by the pressure of the Liberian people and I want to believe that it was not a pressure from the Unity Party-led government that made him to resign because the Unity Party-led government saw him breaching the law and could not do anything about it. So, nobody can brag about it that it was the government that pressured Mr. Modad to resign. I think the Boakai-led government needs to do more to fight corruption because not just to talk about it and not just Amin Modad but lots of folks in government like directors, ministers that the government needs to go after to do more in terms of them doing the right thing for the people of Liberia. This country is an old country that needs to develop and we cannot continue to live the way we are living.”

Pharaze Leadopoe Dekpah: ” Look at a Poor Economic Country, for an individual to be riding a 96,000 USD car, it was good for him to turn in his resignation. We criticize the past Government for being involved in such practices which was not good, President Boakai should not allow things to happen in his government, Dekpah said.”.

Jeremiah Bedell: “In the past there were many corruption allegations in every Sector in government but we don’t want for Such act to be reported in Boakai government, we continued to pay tax but no return that the business community and Liberians can boost off Bedell said “.

Jonathan B. Samba: “For me what I will say is, the government has not made it one year yet and people have started to resign, being suspended and so on. It is not a good sign at all. More work needs to be done about it. Do you know what picture it puts into the outside world, that this government is not serious?”

Fedrick Opa Brooks: “Look my brother, let me tell you. I am a street vendor but let’s be real, government officials tendering in resignation is based on transparency and accountability. Let this administration hold officials not based on merit but should also be holistic and I see it as cherish picking. If we hold anyone to be corrupt, we should also not forget to hold the root of it as well. How it started is very important and is paramount to the growth and development of Liberia. I think it is a good start and that will serve as a reminder to whoever intends to do things outside of the government agenda. Let the international people judge us not by what they hear but what they see.”

Deborah Hynes a local trader: “My own thought is, sometimes it is better to resign than for you to be fired from your job. So, I think they knew that they were going to be dismissed so they decided to cross and resign. Well, some people will see it as being childish or the government not ready for business because too early for your officials to behave in such a way. As for me, why we appreciate their resignation, let the government stand tall to do it for every ministry and agencies. Do not wait for pressure from us, the citizens, before taking action.  If the president notices that someone wants to spoil your government, get them out immediately. Whether you are in the country or outside, send a message instantly. Waiting for citizens to call on various radio stations before acting. I think you don’t know what you are elected to do as a president. By doing so, this country will be better for everybody.”

Uriah Dolo, a street vendor (money changer): “One thing I must tell you my brother, one major problem we had with the immediate past government is, they have integrity issues. Some people were caught in a corruption saga and at the end of the day, the head of state said nothing about it. Now, this regime is trying to fight corruption. The Commerce Minister resigned due to an integrity issue. Liberian people said he stole and in that, he had to resign or else the president was going to sack him. It is commendable and I think every government official who does such must resign or be dismissed. So, it was good and I think our partners out there will applaud us for this. Now the task is in the president’s hands, if he will not investigate the matter is up to him but we the Liberian people’s ears will be open.”

Cecelia Hooke: “What I want to tell our president is, thank you for making that man (Amin Modad) resign because if you were not coming to talk about corruption in your government, they were going to be stealing every day. It is a good thing. Let him go sit down small with his family and know that if you steal government money it is not good. Oh oo, it will make other countries come to help us because they will say this place is good for them to bring more jobs.”

Felecia Browne: “Yes, the government officials who resign are necessary. It gives a good image to the government because fighting corruption is necessary in Liberia and Africa at large. Because corruption hinders the development of a nation.”