Filed in by Olando Testimony Zeongar – 0776819983/0880-361116/life2short4some@yahoo.com
Following multiple accounts from the Government of Liberia regarding the alleged disappearance of billions of Liberian Dollar banknotes, a local pro-political movement, the Economic Freedom Fighters of Liberia (EFFL) says it is deeply worried about the future of Liberia under the stewardship of President George Manneh Weah.
The EFFL in a statement issued Thursday, in which it took jibes at the Liberian leader and some of his officials, disclosed that in consonance with its fear for Liberia’s future under a Weah presidency, in the wake of billions of Liberian Dollars going missing in thin air, it is mobilizing for a nationwide strike in protest of the Government’s handling of the moneys.
Since news broke that some 16 billion dollars in Liberian currency had gone missing, key Government officials including President Weah, continue to give conflicting accounts regarding the matter, with some saying the moneys had gone missing while others are insisting the contrary.
Howbeit, the EFFL is of the belief that due to such occurrences and what the group calls leadership mis-steps of the Government, Weah is incompetent to lead Liberia as its president.
The EFFL referencing the intercessory service recently organized by Bishop Isaac A. Winker of the Dominion Christian Fellowship Center in President Weah’s honor upon his return from the United Nation General Assembly, the group accused the Liberian leader of seizing the moment to utter what it describes as elementary statements concerning the “mysterious disappearance of 16 billion Liberian Dollars,” which the group says has entangled the former footballer turned politician administration.
Quoting President Weah as stating on several local and international media outlets, that “It is not possible for 16 billion Liberian Dollars to go missing,” the EFFL terms such statement on the part of the Liberian Head of State as being irresponsible and a one which undermines the already questioned committee set up by him in few days without awaiting the outcome of an investigation earlier launched over the alleged disappearance of the billions in Liberian currency.
“The President’s action is not just inconsistency but a complete lack of leadership,” the EFFL said.
‘Working at President Weah’s will and pleasure’
The EFFL turning from the Liberian leader a bit, took a jibe at President Weah’s Central Bank Governor, Nathaniel Patray, slamming him as an aged economist, who has offered himself to work at the will and pleasure of Weah, contrary to the laws of the country which makes his post a tenured one and his agency an autonomous bureau that should be void of interference from the presidency as well as officials from other branches of the Government.
“It can be recalled that days after Nathaniel Partray was nominated by President Weah and subsequent confirmation by the Liberian Senate as Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia, he visited the ruling party (CDC) headquarters and promised to disregard the legal framework and financial regulations governing the CBL and work at the will and pleasure of the President to satisfy whatever motive of the President,” said EFFL.
Relying on an inside source which the EFFL says is reliable, the group further said, upon making this statement publicly, few days later, Governor Patray suggested to President Weah to infuse twenty-five (25) million United States Dollars into the economy to mop up the excess Liberian bank notes, but the Economic Freedom Fighters wonders that up to date, there is no history or record of such action taking place through any commercial banks.
The EFFL believes that such action should have “taken place through the commercial banks in a financially sound environment but unfortunately, it appears that direct moping took place in the pockets of state looters which is also a corridor for corruption.”
Recently, as the Government of Liberia (GoL) changed geared over which agency to lead the probe into circumstances surrounding billions of Liberian Dollars allegedly going missing, with the GoL switching authority from the Liberia National Police and the National Security Agency, over to the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commision (LACC), as lead investigator, the Central Bank of Liberia under Patray, announced bluntly that the 16 billion Liberian Dollars had not gone missing, but were concealed in the bank’s reserve vaults.
Many Liberians greeted Patray and the CBL’s ‘no-money-missing’ announcement that was made at a press conference with utmost doubt, with others expressing outrage, stating that such announcement only left a void for more questions than answers.
For the EFFL, it sees Patray and the CBL’s statement regarding ‘no-money-missing’ in contrast to the ongoing investigation into the ‘missing billions’ as what it terms as an effort to resuscitate President Weah’s declining international image.
“In an effort to resuscitate Weah’s declining international image, the CBL issued a statement just a day after the United States Federal Reserve placed a freeze on our foreign reserve account saying that there is no money missing which totally contradicts several information from government circles including those to international media and the ongoing investigation,” the EFFL said.
The EFFL, which says it remains unapologetic about its strong stance against the Weah administration regarding issues of national concerns, is of the belief that the Government of Liberia will do everything to undermine the credibility of the investigation as a way of managing the perceptions of the people.
The Economic Freedom Fighters of Liberia says in spite of what it calls many guilt associated press conferences being held by officials of the ruling party and the government, in search of gaining reputation and the confidence of the citizens, “President Weah and his government officials cannot easily distance themselves from the missing container of 16 billion Liberian dollars.”
“Bad example”
“With no regret, the EFFL likes to inform the public that President Weah who has overnight become a bad example for leadership has begun building new homes across the city to legitimize his morally unbalanced assertion that he came to the presidency wealthy,” said the EFFL, adding, “The bankrupt former footballer and now President of Liberia’s administration is showing early signal that they are not interested in any legal framework governing Liberia which is horrible for the survival of the ordinary Liberians because international organizations have already started finding difficulties to do business with Liberia.”
The EFFL pointed out that it has realized that it is troubling for Liberia when the CBL that manages the monetary policy of the country is politically driven, terming same as being dangerous for the financial sector.
The EFFL said the fact that it took the CBL weeks to comment on what the group terms the mysterious disappearance of billions of Liberian Dollar banknotes, speaks volume, saying such move on the part of officials and the Government continues to provoke the intelligence of Liberian grass rooters.
Meanwhile, the EFFL has disclosed that it has begun the mobilization for a nationwide protest to be announced shortly in collaboration with other stakeholders.
The group “reassures the public that she will do everything in the best interest of Liberia to making sure that the missing 16 billion Liberian dollars is restituted for we already understand the damage control mechanism caused by this administration because we can’t open the vaults to check.”
