The Coalition of Youths and Students for Better Liberia (COYSBL) has strongly condemned the appointment of former convicted Minister of Defense, Brownie Samukai, to head the authority to manage the yellow machines purchased by the Government of Liberia (GOL). The group criticized President Boakai’s appointment of Samukai given his history of mismanaging private funds belonging to officers of the Armed Forces of Liberia.
Speaking on the arrival of the government’s yellow machines in the country, the youth and student group stated, “The Coalition of Youths and Students for Better Liberia is disappointed in President Boakai for appointing Mr. Brownie Samukai, who was convicted for mismanagement of private savings of officers of the Armed Forces of Liberia. Mr. Samukai’s appointment contradicts the government’s fight against corruption and prudent financial management of the state. We are appalled that Mr. Samukai, who spent 12 years as Minister of Defense with no impact on the lives of the people of Lofa County and Liberia, could be appointed to manage the country’s yellow machines.”
The Coalition of Youths and Students for Better Liberia also decried the duplication of the functions of the Ministry of Public Works, charged with the responsibility to manage and implement all infrastructural activities and programs of the government. The youthful CSO group intimated that the Executive Law of 1972 gives the Ministry of Public Works the functions to oversee and implement all of the country’s infrastructural programs and projects. They expressed frustration that President Boakai would create another institution with budgetary support to perform jobs that the Ministry of Public Works is given budgetary allocation to perform.
“The Coalition of Youth and Students for Better Liberia calls on President Boakai to immediately dissolve the Yellow Machines Authority and allow the Ministry of Public Works to perform its fiduciary functions,” the Coalition of Youth and Students for Better Liberia stated.
