Amidst the controversies surrounding the purchase of alleged “substandard buses” by the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, the National Civil Society Union of Liberia (NACSUL) says its findings have proved that the ministry is not liable for any wrong doings.
NACSUL indicated in a press statement issued on Sunday, February 9, 2025 that, based on the information spread by some media outlets, it took keen interest in investigating the processes leading to the purchase of the buses by contacting all relevant sources in order to ascertain the facts in the issues raised.
NACSUL revealed that the investigation established that the Ministry of Post and Telecommunication firstly worked on a procurement plan which was approved by the Public Procurement and Concession Commission (PPCC), and subsequently set up a procurement committee constituting five members, including Macdelia Wade-Chairperson, Daniel Johnson-Secretary, Achie Teewon, member, among others.
NACSUL said its investigation proved that the procurement committee on September 30, 2024 communicated with five venders: Africa Motors, CICA Motors, Cautcus Motors, GBK Motors and Prestige Motors.
The committee held a meeting on October 14, 2024 with only representatives from three of the five companies, CICA Motors, Africa Motors and Prestige Motors, present.
The investigation continues that during the bid process two of the companies, CICA Motors and Prestige Motors, met all of the requirements as requested by the procurement committee, with Africa Motors falling short of the requirement.
Against this backdrop, NACSUL further indicates that its finding proved that on October 24, 2024 the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications wrote Prestige Motors indicating that the company won the bid for the three buses (21-seater, non-AC) at the lowest price of US$28,879 for each, with a total US$86,637, and one vehicle (pickup) for the Deputy Minister for Operations at the cost of US$43,000.
At the same time, NACSUL disclosed that CICA Motors was also written on October 24, 2024 that the company won the bid for one pickup amounting to US$34,500 and two vehicles for Deputy Ministers, amounting to US$41,000 for each (US$82,000), along with five vehicle for assistant ministers, costing US$27,000 for each, with a total of US$135,000.
As a matter of due diligence, the ministry wrote on October 24, 2024 informing Africa Motors about their loss of the bid, and urged the company to participate in future bidding processes.
NACSUL at the same time noted that its investigation established that following the bid and evaluation process, Post and Telecommunications Minister Sekou Kromah officially communicated with the PPCC on October 29, 2024 informing the procurement authority of the winners of the bids based on the evaluation and report. Thereafter, on November 4, 2024 PPCC replied with a “No Objection Order” with respect to the bid, at the same time indicating that the contact package was duly planed in accordance with the Procurement Law, and asked the Minister to proceed for payment.
NACSUL also mentioned that its investigation discovered that after the bid process, all relevant documents were forwarded to the General Services Agency (GSA) prior to the delivery of the buses and other vehicles so as to be fully aware of the procurement process.
Also, as required, all documents were duly signed by the Minister of Finance and Development Planning as well as the Minister of Justice.
Following the arrival of the buses, the GSA, on January 21, 2025, did not issue rejection order for the buses, rather recommended that the ministry gets back to the vender and ensure that high standard buses are procured for the workers, and this recommendation the ministry took into consideration.
Based on the GSA recommendation, the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications went back to Prestige Motors for the new buses, fully AC, but was informed by the managements of Prestige Motors that said buses cost US$39,500 for each (17-seater) instead of the initial three buses bid for at the cost of US$28,879 each for 21-seater buses. With the change in price, the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications opted for two buses, which was also communicated to the PPCC, with a “no objection”.
The ministry also stated for the record that the procurement process did not include a vehicle for the Minister-proper, based on his quest to ensure his principal deputies and assistant ministers are provided vehicles as he uses the current vehicle that was used by two of the former Ministers of Post and Telecommunications, Cllr. Cooper Kruah and Whealia Sywah Dunor, respectively.
Based on the account, the National Civil Society Union of Liberia said its findings revealed that the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications followed the Public Procurement and Concession Act, which mandates fairness and accountability in government’s purchases.
The Minister assured the civil society organization of its commitment to ensure transparency and accountability, as well as to improve staff mobility and good working conditions, and urged the media to at all times fact-check information in order to avoid misinformation.
Furthermore, the National Civil Union of Liberia says its investigation established that some members of the senior management team at the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications are the ones giving misinformation to individuals and institutions within the public with the sole intent of undermining the rapid reforms initiated by Minister Kromah and team.
NACSUL used the medium to caution these individuals within the Ministry of Post and Telecommunication to immediately desist from said unprofessional acts or they will be named and shamed in their next investigative article.
“NACSUL wants to use this medium to commend the Minister of Post and Telecommunication and team for raising over US$100,000 as its contribution to government’s revenue in the 2024 budget, even though the LRA was expecting an amount of approximately US$29,000 as the ministry’s projection, including massive renovation of the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications,” NACSUL stated.