MONROVIA – A court in Montserrado County has formally summoned the management of Building Material Center (BMC) to produce all financial and contract documents related to the construction of Clar Hope Foundation’s flagship project, the City of Hope complex. The subpoena, issued by the Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Task Force (AREPT) through its Chairman, Cllr. Edwin K. Martin, and filed before His Honor Roosevelt Z. Willie, Resident Circuit Judge of Criminal Court A, demands that BMC produce the construction contract, payment vouchers and checks, receipts, the bill of quantities (BOQ), and all other payment documents tied to the project.
The writ of “Subpoena Duces Tecum” was signed on 21 November 2025 and orders BMC to appear before the court on 27 November 2025 at 10:00 a.m. Failure to comply will prompt enforcement under court orders. The move marks a serious escalation in the ongoing scrutiny of how the City of Hope was financed and built.
The Clar Hope Foundation was officially launched on 4 June 2018 by then First Lady Clar Marie Weah. From its inception, the foundation pledged to support vulnerable women, children, youth, and the elderly through projects spanning education, health, gender equality and economic empowerment. The centerpiece of that vision was the City of Hope, a multi-purpose complex designed to provide shelter, education and rehabilitation for orphans, street youths, and underprivileged women across Liberia.
After years of gradual construction, the City of Hope was formally dedicated on 14 August 2024, a ceremony celebrated as a “historic legacy project” for Liberia’s most vulnerable populations. According to official descriptions, the site spans about 10 acres and includes school buildings, dormitories, vocational training facilities, recreation amenities, a clinic, library, computer lab and administrative offices.
Despite the dedication and public praise, questions over funding and ownership of the project have dogged the foundation. In mid-2025, reports surfaced claiming that the City of Hope’s ownership and financing were under investigation, with allegations that public funds may have been diverted or misused in the construction process. Sources close to the ongoing probe say that AREPT agents even visited the City of Hope compound and requested the handover of vehicles reportedly purchased for the facility. Clar Weah vehemently denied any use of government money in the project during the first graduation ceremony at the associated school.
The subpoena of BMC is likely linked to these broader concerns, as investigators appear to be attempting to trace the money trail, scrutinize procurement and payments, and determine whether public funds were indeed used lawfully or otherwise. For BMC, a major supplier of construction materials and services, the demand for “payment vouchers and checks” signals deep interest in identifying beneficiaries and verifying the legitimate flow of funds.
For the Clar Hope Foundation, now transitioning into the public spotlight as a fully functional institution, the repercussions could be profound. If financial irregularities are uncovered, it may tarnish the foundation’s credibility, jeopardize donor confidence, and raise serious questions about accountability and oversight for high-profile “legacy” projects launched by public figures.
This development comes at a time when public skepticism over misuse of state or donor resources is particularly intense. Liberia’s citizens and civil society watchdogs have repeatedly demanded greater transparency in how social and infrastructural projects are funded, managed, and audited. The involvement of BMC and documentation of financial flows might set an important precedent for how civil-society initiatives tied to powerful individuals are held accountable.
