MONROVIA – The Comptroller and Accountant General, Janga Kowo, has confirmed to FrontPageAfrica that the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning is currently facing challenges, which may result in the inability to pay all civil servants before Christmas. However, he assured that salaries are expected to be disbursed, potentially in late December.
By Lennart Dodoo, [email protected]
His comment came was in response to a FrontPageAfrica’s inquiry and request for comment on report that the Central Bank of Liberia was rejecting government cheques because of the government’s indebtedness in the tone of about US$5 million to the Bank.
The Bank in its response to the FPA whether it was returning Government cheques because of indebtedness stated: “The CBL is paying out on checks. We are not aware of any checks being refused. Normally, once an account is funded, its checks are cashed. So, it’s not true that CBL is rejecting checks on the basis that GOL [Government of Liberia] owes the bank. Thank you for verifying the rumors with us.”
However, when similar question was posed to Mr. Kowo, he responded: “Yes, there are challenges but these challenges are being resolved and we are processing salaries for December which may be late for Christmas for some agencies but will be settled before the end December 2023.”
According to reports, revenues being collected by the Liberia Revenue Authority have been serving government’s debt with the Central Bank.
FrontPageAfrica gathered that civil servants working with some Ministries and Agencies are yet to receive salary for November lest to say December. According to sources, the rejection of government cheques is as recent as December 19. This is, accordingly, putting comptrollers at the affected ministries and agencies under immense pressure, especially as the Christmas season approaches.
A civil servant working with the Ministry of Internal Affairs who asked not be named lamented the delay in the payment of her salary. “I am a mother of three boys and all they have is me. All I depend on to take care of them is my salary. What do I tell my children this Christmas when my neighbor’s children are wearing new clothes and eating good food on Christmas day right in our faces and my children can’t get food to eat on Christmas Day. This is absolutely embarrassing to me as a mother.”
Another employee from the Independent Human Rights Commission told FrontPageAfrica, “Since November I’ve not been paid. Christmas and New Year are around the corner and we have families that look up to us. This is inhumane and unacceptable. We expected this outgoing government to be very responsible. What story am I taking to my children? The money isn’t sufficient and it’s always delaying.”
“Five more days to Christmas, Samuel Tweah, leave Amara Konneh alone and pay attention to our salary. We have people looking up to us. We cannot go to Christmas without receiving two to three months salary. This needs to be addressed,” another employee of the Commission said.