Monrovia – Her named was mentioned in an allegation made by Representative Julius Berrian (CDC-District#10 Montserrado County) when he raised alarm over a US$1.6 million missing from Montserrado County’s dedicated account.

Report by Henry Karmo – henrykarmo@frontpageafricaonline.com

Rep. Berrian claimed a Deputy Internal Affair Minister for Operations, Gbemie Horace Kollie, was the custodian of the county account and she was yet to give account about the missing money.

In an interview on Wednesday, the accused says the Montserrado County lawmaker comments were intended to buy him public sentiments for re-election. 

On Tuesday, November 22, 2016, Representative Berrian alarmed that the amount of US$1.6 million which was managed under the Dedicated Fund Account of Montserrado County by Madam Kollie at the time, hads been depleted.

According to him, the total amount of US$1.8 million was the total amount in the Dedicated Account of the county, but the amount of US$200,000 was withdrawn to support the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) of the county.

He stated that total amount of US$1.6 million intended to carryout development in Montserrado had been depleted from the county’s Dedicated Fund coffers.

In an interview with FPA on Wednesday, November 23, 2016 in Monrovia, Madam Kollie denied being a signatory to the Dedicated Fund Accounts of counties benefiting from China Union Social Development contribution to the Liberian government.

  Kollie said prior to her ascendancy as Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, her previous role as Head of the Dedicated Account Secretariat were to provide technical support to the counties, help them prepare projects, verify and also link them to ensure that each of those projects is done.

She confirmed that the amount of US$1.8 million was allotted to Montserrado County as 25% share of China Union US$3.5 million Social Development Fund contribution, but said out of the total amount US$205,065.15 was withdrawn for the project implementation unit (PIU) of Montserrado County in February 2011 based on an endorsement from the county’s legislative caucus.

She further indicated that out of the remaining amount of US$1,548,381.85, US$5,044 was paid as three-month salary arrears of some staffers of the dedicated fund council (DFC) after their contracts were terminated.

Contrary to Rep. Berrian’s assertion, Gbamie claimed that that US$1,543,338 was still being kept at the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) up to the time of her departure in 2013.

Horace noted:  “Montserrado County did not withdraw huge portions of their money from the county’s account at the time as compared to Margibi and Bong Counties due to internal wrangling between the county’s legislative caucus and former Superintendent Madam Grace T-Kpaan over the implementation of the project.

“The amendment of the Budget Law which, among other things, calls for decision for the expenditure of Social Development Fund to be made through the County Council Sitting prompted the dissolution of the DFC.”

She said prior to the amendment of the Law in 2013, county authorities were going directly to the Ministry of Finance to withdraw their funds.

She expressed disappointment on why the CDC lawmaker chose to report the matter to the House plenary without first seeking information from her office.

“I am quite very disappointed that Honorable Berrian doesn’t have information. It’s unfortunate from where he sits to be giving the wrong information.

“I heard him talked about me depleting an account.”

All that I had to do at the Dedicated Fund Committee when I was Head of the Secretariat was to provide technical support to the counties, help them prepare projects, verify and also link them to ensure that each of those projects are done.

“I was never a signatory to that account. I think Hon. Berrian is a little bit desperate in the sense that election is just next door and he’s trying to buy public sentiments and he’s under pressure in his district. I don’t think that he should be doing that at the expense of my character,” she stated.

Monrovia – Representative Julius Berrian (CDC-District #10 Montserrado County) has raised concern over what he called missing US$1.6 million from the account of Montserrado County dedicated account.

Report by Henry Karmo –  henry.karmo@frontpageafriacaonline.com

The amount was intended for implementation of projects in the county.

The account managed by Mrs. Gbemie Horace Kollie, Deputy Minister for Operation at the Ministry of Internal Affairs according to the Montserrado County lawmaker, had an amount of US$1.8 million out of which US$200,000 was withdrawn for the project implementation unit (PIU) for Montserrado County.

It has been alleged that said account was depleted after a comprehensive and thorough financial reconciliation and investigation were conducted.

“In lieu of the above mentioned, I am seeking indulgence of plenary to invite the Minister of Internal Affairs along with Madam Gbemie Horace Kollie, Deputy Minister for Operation at the Ministry of internal Affairs,” Rep. Berrian asked of his colleagues.

Rep. Berrian also requested that the Minister of Lands, Mines and Energy; the Minister of Finance; and Montserrado County Superintendent appear along with the bank statement and give reason why said account is depleted.

The depletion of the account, according to him, was impeding the progress of projects and developmental agenda of the people of Montserrado County.

Berrian: “US$1.6 million is not joking money. It is a money that can do lot of development around here. They must tell us what happened to our county’s money.”

“We have gotten to know over the period of time that the account that hosted our money is depleted,” he added.

When contacted, Montserrado County Superintendent Florence Brandy said, the allegation made by the lawmaker had nothing to do with her administration.

“It was not under my administration that money was missing,” she said.

Meanwhile, Plenary of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, November 22, 2016 concurred with the Liberian Senate for the passage of an act adopting the Securities Market Act of Liberia 2016 and an act adopting the Central Securities Depository Act of Liberia 2017.

Plenary took the decision following a recommendation from its committees on Banking and Currency and Judiciary during the 5th day sitting of the 2nd Special Session.