The Revolutionary National Youth League of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) is demanding an immediate investigation into an alleged US$80 million public corruption by the Managing Director of the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC), Amos Tweh, while questioning the public statement made by Musa Konneh, CDC’s Vice Chair for Operation, and Janjay Baikpeh, Grand Bassa County Chairman, on OK FM in defense of their “friend”, the LPRC Managing Director.
The CDC Youth League said it has received volumes of documents of serious financial irregularities exceeding US$80 million at the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC) under the leadership of the Managing Director, Amos Tweh, who is also the Secretary General of the ruling Unity Party (UP).
These documents, the youth league said, suggest that revenues reportedly generated from petroleum importers have not been fully reported or remitted to the Government’s Consolidated Account, as required under the Public Financial Management (PFM) Law. “Additional reference of the documents points out the use of private accounts linked to family members and significant others of Managing Director Amos Tweh. These claims are serious and must claim immediate, independent scrutiny,” the group said.
Article 34(d)(i) of the 1986 Constitution of the Republic of Liberia vests the Legislature with oversight over public finances, and Article 90(c) mandates the elimination of corruption and abuse of power in public office. Furthermore, the Public Financial Management Act of 2009 requires that all public revenues be promptly deposited into the Consolidated Fund and properly accounted for under established financial controls. Any deviation from these statutory requirements would constitute a grave breach of public trust and signal public corruption.
Consequently, the CDC Youth League said “it is deeply concerned by public statements on Okay FM with Julius Jeh from members of the CDC National Executive Committee, precisely its National Vice Chairman for Mobilization, Mr. Musa Konneh and Mr. Janjay Baikpeh, Chairman Grand Bassa County, who have both offered public defenses before any independent audit or statutory review has been concluded. Such premature exoneration of their good friend Amos Tweh risks undermining the NEC credibility and the CDC’s Political Leader President George M. Weah historic anti-corruption position. Their views also undermined the CDC quest to hold the Unity Party government accountable especially at the time Liberians are going through pernicious hardship and good governance breakdown under Mr. Joseph N. Boakai.
“The Youth League intelligence bureau briefed the NEC that these officials received handsome envelopes of US$15,000 from the Managing Director Amos Tweh to issue public defense on his behalf. While we recognized the apology from Chairman Janjay Baikpeh, who said in his statement that it was a ‘lapsus linguae’ slipped from tongue, we warmed him against any such party indiscipline.
“We therefore formally call upon the National Chairman of the CDC, Mr. Janga A. Kowo, to exercise the authority of the NEC to ensure internal discipline and preserve the moral standing of the party. Additionally, the Revolutionary National Youth League-CDC calls for an immediate, transparent, and comprehensive investigation by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), pursuant to its mandate under the LACC Act to investigate and prosecute acts of corruption; and the General Auditing Commission (GAC), consistent with its Constitutional authority under Article 89 to audit public accounts and state-owned enterprises.
“The Liberian people deserve clarity, not conjecture. We emphasize that due process must prevail and that all allegations must be examined through lawful institutional channels. No public official, regardless of political party rank or affiliation, should be shielded from statutory scrutiny.”
