Monrovia – Leaked financial documents have raised serious allegations of financial mismanagement and unauthorized withdrawals at the National Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Commission (NWASHC), implicating Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah in an apparent corruption scheme.
By Franklin Doloquee
The documents, obtained and published by activist Martin K. N. Kollie, reveal that over L$31.7 million (Liberian dollars) and US$316,200 were withdrawn from the Commission’s operational account under suspicious circumstances during the administration of former President George Weah.
Kollie’s report directly links Fallah to the mismanagement, claiming that the Deputy Speaker used his influence to position Francis C. Snorton — a close associate and current administrator at Fallah’s private university—as the NWASHC Comptroller. Kollie alleges that Snorton facilitated the diversion of public funds from the Commission’s account.
Fallah has yet to respond to the allegations. His office did not answer inquiries from FrontPage Africa regarding the claims.
Unauthorized Withdrawals
The leaked documents detail numerous over-the-counter cash withdrawals from the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) account of NWASHC, allegedly executed by Snorton. These transactions are reported to have violated Liberia’s Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Law of 2021, which limits cash withdrawals to US$10,000 per transaction.
According to Kollie, Snorton bypassed these restrictions, withdrawing up to US$200,000 in a single day.
Snorton reportedly explained that the funds were used for NWASHC projects. However, Kollie disputes this claim, stating that no verifiable projects were implemented, labeling the explanation as a “blatant lie.” Kollie is challenging Fallah, Snorton, and others named in the scheme to present financial records that prove the legitimate use of the funds.
Secret Accounts and Ghost Employees
Kollie further claims that the misappropriated funds were transferred to a secret account at Afriland First Bank, from which they were allegedly distributed among top officials connected to the scheme.
He also names two individuals, J. Augustine T. Nyeplu and Marcellinus N. Wiefue, who are said to have cashed checks linked to the suspicious transactions, despite not being employees of NWASHC.
Other figures mentioned in the alleged corruption include Salia O. Kamara, former Executive Director of NWASHC; Octavius Sampson, Director of Finance; and Bobby Whitefield, former CEO of the Commission.
Kollie emphasizes that, despite the significant sums involved, NWASHC was never intended to function as an implementing agency, further questioning the legitimacy of the withdrawals.
Whistleblower Testimonies
Kollie asserts that two current NWASHC employees, aware of the irregularities, are willing to testify under government protection. He also alleges that Fallah used his political influence to obstruct an investigation by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), shielding himself and his associates from scrutiny.
“This is an open challenge to Deputy Speaker Fallah and his associates to prove how these funds were used,” Kollie said. “They have nothing to show because the money was diverted and stolen.”
Kollie is urging President Joseph Boakai’s administration to honor its commitment to fighting corruption, pointing to Fallah’s unexplained wealth, including real estate holdings, businesses, and a private university, as grounds for investigation.
Demands for Accountability
Kollie has called for a comprehensive audit of NWASHC and the National Legislature from 2018 to 2025. He has also appealed to international organizations, including the U.S. Embassy, European Union, United Nations, and World Bank, to take note of the situation, which he described as “institutionalized corruption.”
“This is the real tragedy in Liberia,” Kollie said. “While millions suffer in extreme poverty, public officials are looting state resources with impunity.”