MONROVIA — In September 2023, Madam Joseta Neufville Wento, head of the National Road Fund, issued contracts to two companies, BLECO Group Inc. and ASIAN Liberia Investment INC., for consultancy and installation of solar lights.
By Henry Karmo [email protected]
The cost of each project is $410,500.00 and $160,000.00, respectively. According to reports, the $410,500.00 contract was awarded to BLECO Group Inc. for consultancy services, including project evaluation and soil sampling across the country to inform the Ministry of Public Works about future projects.
The $160,000.00 contract with ASIAN Liberia Investment INC. was for the construction of solar lights in Porkpa, Grand Cape Mount County. It’s reported that each contractor received a 60% advance payment with no bank guarantee. Sources suggest this project was intended to support Mr. Luther Collins, a CDC candidate in the 2023 election in District 2, Gbarpolu County.
When contacted, Madam Joseta Neufville Wento confirmed the contracts were issued and met all legal requirements. Contract documents show that Joseta Neufville Wento, Manager of the National Road Fund, signed the agreements, witnessed by John Tokpah, Administrative Assistant, Hon. Samuel Tweh, Minister of Finance, and Hon. Frank Musa Dean, Minister of Justice.
The agreement states that a 60% advance payment of $246,300.00 was made to the consultant without a bank guarantee, and the consultant’s contract remains incomplete.
It’s also reported that the solar lights project supported the campaign of Bintu Massalay, as the lights were delivered to the candidate’s father, Idrissa Bamaba, for distribution in Porkpa District. Bamaba served as the CDC campaign coordinator in Grand Cape Mount County. Some lights were allegedly taken to towns in Sierra Leone, as many supporters of Massalay hailed from there.
During the same period, the National Road Fund contracted Spokesman ClIr. Kanio B. Gbala for the CDC campaign to re-elect Former President George Weah as its legal consultant and campaign spokesperson. His Liberian Bar Association fees for 2023 and 2024 were paid by the National Road Fund Office.
When contacted, Mr. Gbala confirmed the information, stating, “Yes, I was contracted by the Road Fund as a Legal Consultant. A campaign Spokesperson is a voluntary, unpaid position without any contractual arrangements. Additionally, as a consultant and not an employee, I was/am not required to be in the office from 9 am to 5 pm but rather to respond to work requests in a timely and efficient manner when duly informed.”
In response to whether he still holds a contract with the entity, he said, “Yes, I still hold a contract with the Road Fund. Payment of the Bar Fees of Legal Counsels working with public entities and private corporations is a routine practice in the sector and is considered a corporate expense. You can confirm this from any in-house counsel. It is consistent with this very legitimate and legal practice that my fees were paid for 2023 and 2024, covering the period of my current contract. The fees were paid directly to the Liberia National Bar Association.”
