Editorial: The Earth-Moving Equipment: Questions Of Transparency, The Rule Of Law, And Good Governance

ON SATURDAY, JULY 6, 2024, the Liberian government paraded several pieces of earth-moving equipment, or yellow machines. Media outlets have quoted government sources as confirming importation of the equipment as the first consignment of the much-discussed 285 road construction equipment. Liberians on social media and other platforms have welcomed the development, but called for transparency, accountability, and full compliance with public procurement and other related laws in acquiring the equipment.

CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS are the umbrella of Liberians calling for transparency in the procurement of the equipment. The Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) is one of the CSOs deeply troubled by an as-yet-unclear transaction. CENTAL’s Executive Director, Anderson Miamen, has observed, “…In the face of the assertion made by the government’s spokesperson, many Liberians, including us at CENTAL, were surprised when the government moved to bring in the first batch of the equipment without any evidence that procurement laws were followed.”

THE CENTAL BOSS is concerned that more than one month after the Liberian government confirmed plans to acquire the equipment it has provided little or no tangible information on the matter. He states that circumstances around acquisition of the yellow machines are still unclear, despite persistent public outcry and demand for information from state authorities. 

“THE SOURCE, COST, nature of the deal, payment modalities and other vital details are still top secret of the government, despite the Freedom of Information, Code of Conduct for Public Officials and other laws and polices requiring full disclosure of such information,” Miamen voiced. “Why would a government who premised its campaign on transparency and accountability choose to have the issue of importation of such huge quantity of equipment valued at millions of dollars shredded in secrecy? We can only wonder. What is stopping the government from openly disclosing details of the deal, including cost of the equipment, source of funding, and the supplier(s)? Why is the Ministry of Information still tightlipped on the issue? 

“CENTAL IS DEEPLY troubled by this development, which contradicts the President’s professed anti-corruption commitment and respect for the rule of law and good governance requirements.

ACCORDING TO THE good governance activist, if the “R” component of the government’s ARREST Agenda truly means respect for the rule of law, then the government needs to do the needful by ensuring the right processes, including the public procurement and other tendering processes, are fully respected. This does not seem to be the case as things stand with the equipment acquisition. This is not the first time the government has engaged in an opaque and non-competitive process.”