By Socrates Smythe Saywon | Smart News Liberia
MONROVIA – The opposition Alternative National Congress (ANC) has formally called on the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) to launch what it described as an immediate, independent, and comprehensive investigation into the controversial Mano River Union (MRU) Center for Regional Peace and Development project currently under construction in Foya, Lofa County.
In a communication issued Wednesday, May 27, 2026, the ANC, through its political leader Alexander Cummings, raised serious concerns over the legality, transparency, financing, procurement processes, and constitutional compliance surrounding the multimillion dollar project, which has increasingly become the subject of national controversy and public debate.
The statement, formally addressed to the Executive Chairperson of the LACC, argued that growing revelations surrounding the project have exposed troubling questions regarding Liberia’s public financial management system, procurement integrity mechanisms, and democratic accountability standards.
According to the ANC, publicly available information, official government statements, media investigations, and widespread public concern collectively point to what the opposition described as disturbing irregularities surrounding the execution of the project.
The ANC noted that construction on the MRU Center reportedly commenced around September 10, 2024, under circumstances described by various sources as a “National Secret” initiative before later government clarifications acknowledged that the project is fully owned by the Government of Liberia.
The party further claimed that the project is being financed primarily through contributions from several State Owned Enterprises, including the National Social Security and Welfare Corporation (NASSCORP), the National Port Authority (NPA), the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC), and the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC).
According to the ANC, the reported financing structure and manner in which the project was allegedly initiated have created legitimate concerns about whether public resources are being managed outside legally established budgetary and procurement frameworks.
The opposition party specifically warned that significant public funds may have been committed and expended outside the approved national budget without legislative appropriation, which it argued could violate both the Public Financial Management Act and Article 34 of the Liberian Constitution.
The ANC further alleged that the project may have bypassed mandatory competitive bidding and procurement procedures required under the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission Act, potentially undermining transparency safeguards intended to protect public resources from abuse and political manipulation.
In its communication to the LACC, the ANC also expressed concern that public resources controlled by State Owned Enterprises may have been redirected toward the project without sufficient disclosure, independent auditing, or legislative oversight.
According to the party, contradictory public statements regarding the project’s ownership, funding sources, authorization process, overall purpose, and total cost have significantly weakened public trust and intensified suspicions regarding possible misuse of public office and state resources.
“The reported secrecy surrounding the project’s execution may constitute deliberate circumvention of transparency and accountability safeguards established under Liberian law,” the ANC warned.
The opposition party argued that the issue extends beyond the project itself and instead reflects broader concerns about governance, transparency, and the rule of law under the current administration.
In its formal request, the ANC called on the LACC to immediately initiate a full-scale investigation into every aspect of the project, including its financing, contracting process, procurement mechanisms, authorization procedures, and implementation structure.
The party also urged anti corruption investigators to determine whether any provisions of Liberia’s Public Financial Management Act, Public Procurement and Concessions Act, anti corruption statutes, Penal Law, or other applicable laws may have been violated.
Additionally, the ANC requested that investigators identify all public officials, private contractors, intermediaries, and institutions involved in approving, financing, and executing the project.
The party further demanded a detailed examination of all financial transfers, procurement records, memoranda, contracts, approvals, and disbursement mechanisms linked to the MRU project.
According to the ANC, where violations are established, the LACC should recommend criminal prosecution, civil penalties, administrative sanctions, or restitution measures against all responsible individuals and entities.
The opposition movement also emphasized the importance of making the findings of any investigation public in order to restore confidence in government institutions and strengthen democratic accountability.
Despite its criticism, the ANC stressed that its request should not be interpreted as opposition to legitimate national development initiatives or regional cooperation efforts.
Rather, the party argued that national development projects must always operate within the boundaries of constitutional governance, fiscal transparency, procurement integrity, and the rule of law.
“Liberia’s democratic future depends not merely upon what projects are undertaken, but how they are undertaken,” the ANC declared in the statement approved by party Chairman Lafayette O. Gould and signed by Secretary General Desmond U. Nimely.
The ANC further maintained that no public official, institution, or political interest group should be permitted to operate above the law or beyond public scrutiny, especially in matters involving the use of state resources.
The communication was also copied to several major national institutions and stakeholders, including the Liberian Senate, House of Representatives, General Auditing Commission, Public Procurement and Concessions Commission, Ministry of Justice, members of the diplomatic community, civil society organizations, and media institutions.
The controversy surrounding the MRU Center project has steadily intensified in recent months following public revelations concerning its financing structure, ownership claims, and procurement procedures.
Civil society advocates argue that the secrecy allegedly surrounding the project has fueled growing public suspicion at a time when Liberia continues facing economic hardship, budgetary constraints, and increasing demands for transparency in public spending.
The ANC’s latest intervention signals mounting political pressure on the Boakai administration to provide full public disclosure regarding the project and demonstrate that no government initiative is exempt from constitutional oversight and accountability standards.
The LACC has yet to publicly respond to the ANC’s request, but the controversy is expected to deepen as opposition figures, civil society organizations, and accountability advocates continue demanding answers regarding the multimillion dollar project and the source of funds used for its execution.
