MONROVIA, LIBERIA—The leader of the Proposed Party for the People, Matthew Nyanplu, has intensified his criticism of the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), directly implicating Deputy Minister for Administration Bill McGill Jones in an alleged fraudulent contract awarded to Elite Group. The $244,441 contract for building painting services was reportedly secured using a forged letter purportedly from the U.S. Embassy, which has since discredited the document as fake.
Nyanplu accused Jones of knowingly approving the contract despite the glaring irregularities in the supporting documentation. “This is shameful conduct,” Nyanplu stated. “Yet Bill went ahead and awarded these groups such a hefty contract. Bill, you are a bad actor and should be terminated.”
The forged letter, allegedly submitted by Elite Group, was riddled with errors and inconsistencies that the U.S. Embassy immediately flagged. Despite this, Jones proceeded with the award, raising suspicions about his potential involvement in the fraudulent scheme.
“The connection is clear,” Nyanplu argued. “Jones had the authority to reject this contract, but he approved it anyway. This is not just negligence; it is complicity in defrauding the Liberian people.”
Nyanplu has called for President Joseph Boakai to suspend Jones and initiate a criminal investigation into the matter. He also demanded the immediate termination of the contract and prosecution of Elite Group’s owners for their role in the alleged fraud.
“Does the MFDP have a vested interest in this $244,000 deal?” Nyanplu questioned, slamming the Unity Party (UP) administration for what he described as a failure to uphold public integrity and accountability.
The MFDP, headed by Minister Augustine Ngafuan, has not yet addressed the accusations. Nevertheless, the scandal has prompted criticism, with some accusing the Boakai administration of promoting corruption and weakening public confidence.
In response, Minister Jones has since denied the allegations of conflict of interest related to the contracts. He labeled the claims as ‘baseless, deceptive, and an intentional attempt to damage his reputation.’ In December, he affirmed that the procurement process complied with Liberia’s Public Procurement and Concessions Law.
