Monrovia – President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is reportedly contemplating the shuffling of her Cabinet probably one last time before she leaves the stage.
Multiple sources have hinted that President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is expected to make some injury time changes in the security sector, Ministries of Transport, Public Works, Lands, Mines and Energy to get ongoing projects completed as her regime nears end
FrontPageAfrica has learned that changes are imminent in the security sector involving the Liberian National Police and the Ministry of Transport. Changes are also said to be contemplated at Public Works and the Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy.
At the Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy, Minister Patrick Sendolo was reported to be stalling negotiations and conclusions of important contracts for projects that will benefit the country.
The President Sirleaf five months ago wrote a harsh worded letter to Sendolo expressing frustration over delays by the Minister leadership in negotiating and concluding these projects.
In the letter, the President wrote – “This letter copied to others are concerned, is to express disappointment and frustration over the time it takes to complete the process that would improve our slow “implementation “ performance”, the communication addressed to Minister Sendolo stated.
Cataloguing the many agreements that were stalled at the Ministry due to the slowness of the Minister, President Sirleaf stated: “One case in point is the long delay in finalizing the arrangement for the outsourcing by LEC of the distribution system in Ganta to a private Liberian entity. I understand that this arrangement will also extend to the other three countries that are benefiting from the ECOWAS Cross Border Project.”
She also expressed: “As you know we have obtained approval from the Cote d’Ivoire authorities to apply a preferential tariff that will reduce the cost per kilowatt hours from 14 cents to as low as 5.6 cents per kilowatt. Today citizens and entities are using generators at a cost of over 40 cents”.
Minister Sendolo was also accused of stalling a US$44 million credit from India.
In other projects that were accordingly stalled through the slowness of Minister Sendolo the President mentioned a US$144 million credit from India indented to expand transmission and distribution service of electricity.
Stated the communication: “Another case in point is our inability to conclude the process for accessing the ratified US$144 million credit from India to expand transmission and distribution service”. In other stalled arrangements, the writer mentioned the Dangote Interment of over US$2 million in reduced tariff on electricity and the Obasanjo Poultry operation.
With such letter from the President to Minister Sendolo, sources say his axing has been long in the making before now.
At the Liberian National Police, speculations continue to heighten over the future of Police Director Chris Massaquoi coming in the wake of rapid drawdown of UN peacekeepers and departure of the United Nations Mission in Liberia.
Jitter Over Looming LNP Changes
The speculations have heightened even further in the wake of recent assertions by Director Massaquoi that the lack of logistics was hampering police morale.
Director Massaquoi at a recent UN program highlighted how low funding to the police was creating bottlenecks and increasing challenges for the force.
Some presidential aides say, those comments did not go down well with the President especially when the comments, according to one source, exposed lip-service in providing funding for the security of the population, judging from the past sour security history of the country.
Director Massaquoi also triggered a debate when he expressed opposition to any foreign force coming to help with security, preferring instead that the Government of Liberia provide funding and logistical support to the police and allow the force to perform its duties.
Said Director Massaquoi: “I have been hearing the in the air, reading the newspapers that they will be bringing in foreign troops to take over the security for the elections in 2017, I don’t even know who will be spending the money, maybe it is the EU or ECOWAS that will be sponsoring this, but whatever the case is for me I have not been informed officially about that, but if the information is true, why can’t the money that is to be used be directed to our local security forces on ground, I want them invest in us and see whether we will not perform”.
Multiple sources have confided to FPA that two names are in the mix and are being studied for possible replacement. Former Police Deputy Abraham Kromah and Greg Coleman recently returned from Harvard after a one-year study.
Wrong timing?
Some security sources feared in off-the-record chatters with FrontPageAfrica that changes in security sector mainly the police may not be a wise decision especially when Liberia has just taken over security from UNMIL and the current leadership at the LNP trying to implement the UNMIL drawdown plan.
Some say a change of leadership could throw the ongoing transition plan in jeopardy as any new leadership will have to adjust to the plan before beginning to implement and could create a lapse in the already fragile security, characterized by armed robbery and limited support to the police to deploy throughout the country.
Public Works Chatters in the Air
At the Ministry of Public Works there have been reports of corruption with Minister Gyude Moore and his principal duty accused of conflict of interest, amongst other accusations.
The slow pace in ongoing road projects and the deplorable road networks around the country are all factors likely to influence President Sirleaf’s decision to look for new faces at the Ministry as the curtain draws down on her regime.
There were reports that replacing the Public Works Minister has been something long in the making.
At the Ministry of Transport, there have also been reports of alleged tampering with bidding process for the award of contract for the introduction of new Driver’s License in the country.
Due diligence on four companies that submitted bid for the contract to produce driver’s license: Face Technology (FT), Cetis in collaboration with Mwantana, Vivien Jones and Techno Brain Limited (TBL) has been raising concerns with reports that officials of the Ministry tampered with the award process.
During due diligence on the selected three bidders, it was reported that Face Technologies has reference sites in Africa and other countries including South Africa, Sri-Lanka, Namibia, Uganda, Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia but these sites have been placed.
The selection of the bid evaluation committee and the process leading to their selection raised eyebrows especially when Oliver Rogers of the Liberia Revenue Authority was relieved as Chairman of the Evaluation Committee and replaced without explanation for such decision when the evaluation process was already ongoing.
Two other bidders, FT and Cetis with superior technical experience according to sources for the referenced project were not invited for the financial opening. Inkript/SGS, whose documents indicate the lack of requisite experience and references, was instead shortlisted.
Shortlisting Inkript/SGS has been seen as the Ministry of Transport going against its own requirements set forth in the invitation to bidders which requires history of performance of bidders in African countries.
These and other issues at the Transport Ministry are said to be issues prompting the President to land the firing line at the Ministry. Mr. Sam Wlue, current Managing Director of the National Housing Authority is said to be on a shortlist of possible replacement for Angela Bush who is reportedly being courted for a role in the Foreign Service.
Void at State Likely to be Filled Soon
Additionally, President Sirleaf is also said to be on the verge of naming a replacement at the Ministry of State to fill the void left in the aftermath of the death of former Minister and long-time aide, Dr. Edward McClain who recently died after a lengthy illness.
It is being speculated that Public Works Minister Moore or embattled Lands, Mines and Energy Minister Patrick Sendolo could return to the ministry after rugged stints at their respective ministries.
Injury Time
With the regime fast approaching its demise, cabinet Minister and other senior officials of government are already looking for a way out, a situation common to most regimes in Liberia here officials switch from one regime to a possible incoming one.
At the moment, the political situation is still very uncertain with no clear favorite to succeed President Sirleaf and amid reports that the ruling Unity is facing internal problems with rumor that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, behind the scene is not supporting the candidacy of Vice President Boakai to succeed her, even though the Liberian leader has expressed public support for her Vice President, government officials are still pondering their next move.
President Sirleaf according to Executive Mansion sources is also looking to make some final changes to appease some supporters who have been left on the side-lines during her entire regime.
