Monrovia — Deputy Finance Minister Bill McGill Jones has rebuffed media reports that he received US$3,000 as per diem from the Ministry of Youth and Sports to travel with the national soccer team of Liberia for its upcoming match in Equatorial Guinea.
By Selma Lomax [email protected]
Spoon FM’s panelist Stanton Witherspoon had on Tuesday night alleged that Minister McGill Jones had received a whopping US$3,000 as per diem while abandoning his function as a deputy minister.
Minutes later, Minister McGill Jones posted to his Facebook handle that Mr. Witherspoon’s claim was diabolical, clarifying that he didn’t travel with the national soccer team to Equatorial Guinea. “Stanton A Witherspoon, I am right here in Monrovia. I didn’t travel with the National Team and I didn’t take a dime for said trip. Please check your facts again,” Minster McGill Jones posted.
On Wednesday, further justifying his presence in Liberia, Minister McGill Jones posted a picture with Finance Minister Augustine Ngafuan with the following caption “After my early morning briefing with my boss, Honorable Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan II, Minister of Finance and Development Planning before he left Office for the Cabinet Meeting.”
On Wednesday, Minister McGill Jones phoned in on the Spoon Show, clarifying he didn’t receive a dime from the Ministry of Youth and Sports and didn’t travel with the team.
Asked why his name was mentioned on the LFA’s list as one of those who were earmarked to travel with the team, Hon. McGill Jones informed panelists that he previously served on the same Mobilization and Fundraising Committee along with Senators Zoe Emmanuel Pennue, Sr. and Geraldine Doe-Sheriff (deceased) to Morocco and Tunisia, respectively between 2015/16.
He further explained that based on his previous work as Secretary General on the Committee, the current leaderships of the LFA and MYS reached out and asked him to serve on the same committee to join efforts with other members to raise funds and support the national team, Minister McGill Jones responded.