The Boakai-Koung administration is now in its second year of leadership, but appears to have forgotten its bread-and-butter, rule of law and the fight against corruption advocacy a few years ago.
Since the beginning of the administration, there have been allegations, reports and proven acts of corruption, disregard for the rule of law, human rights violations and the wanton neglect to solve the bread-and-butter issues for the ordinary masses. At first, it was perceived that it was a propaganda war against the newly seated administration by angry losers of the 2023 general and presidential elections; however, as times pass it appears more glaring that the Boakai administration is involved in all the mishaps and misrules it accused the past administration of.
Latest of them is the allegation about the President/Chief Executive Officer of the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL), Rustolyn Suacoco Dennis, using US$75,000 taxpayers’ money to purchase a car that is sold for US$45,000 while anticipating the US$30,000 to return to her as kickback from the vender.
She has since taken to social media, along with surrogates, to defend her action, claiming that the amount was meant for two vehicles—one for her and the other for her staff.
However, the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) has informed her about the investigation initiated into the allegations of financial improprieties and acts of corruption, and invited her for questioning on Thursday, February 6, 2025 at 11:00 to provide useful information to aid its investigation.
In the letter of invitation, the LACC said, “The Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission presents its compliments and informs you that it has initiated an investigation into allegations of financial improprieties and acts of corruption allegedly carried out by the administration of the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL) under your leadership as the President/CEO between the period July to December 2024.
“Details of the allegations revealed that, for the period under review, the administration of NOCAL, under your instructions and approval, purchased a vehicle (MG 2024 Rx8 SUV) from Cactus Motors for the sum of US$75,000 when, in fact, the actual price of the vehicle is US$45,000. Accordingly, you conspired with the company (Cactus Motors) to receive the additional US$30,000 as kickbacks, which was subsequently given to you in the form of another vehicle which you registered in the name of your company (Tanti Group of Company), thus defrauding the Government of Liberia.
“The allegation also reveals that you used your influence as the CEO of NOCAL in the award of a consultancy contract to a company called ‘West Africa Geo-Service (WAGS)’ valued at US$585,000; and that US$300,000 of this amount was paid to the contractor in violation of the PPCC Act of 2009 as well as the PFM Law of 2009, respectively. In addition, the allegation also reveals that you have mismanaged thousands of United States dollars of the entity’s funds intended for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to reward your political supporters in your district (district #4, Montserrado County).”
This and several other allegations are coming at a time the United States has placed a freeze on all international aids for 90 days, pending review.
