MONROVIA, LIBERIA – On Saturday, February 22, 2025, activist Martin Kollie celebrated a significant development in Liberia’s fight against corruption following the invitation of Madam Joseta Neufville-Wento, Managing Director of the National Road Fund (NRF), by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC). Neufville-Wento has been summoned to answer questions regarding serious allegations of financial mismanagement, contract fraud, and the misuse of public funds, particularly concerning a range of questionable contracts and transactions linked to the NRF.
Kollie, a prominent figure in the civil society movement, took to social media to express his satisfaction with the LACC’s action. In a statement, he declared, “Another victory for our people. Joseta can go and dish out tens of thousands of USD again for Public Relations (PR). It won’t help. The truth will never be distorted by PR stunt or shenanigan. You will account for stealing from our people.”
The allegations against Neufville-Wento are severe. According to Kollie, the LACC is investigating contracts valued at over half a million US dollars, including one related to the installation of substandard solar lamps and another concerning dubious road projects. Kollie emphasized the need for transparency and accountability, urging President Joseph Boakai to take immediate action, stating, “While undergoing criminal investigation, Neufville-Wento cannot use NRF’s assets, including NRF vehicles and offices. We call on President Joseph Boakai to suspend her, too, with immediate effect, pending the outcome of the LACC investigation.”
The accusations center on the misuse of public funds meant for infrastructure development. Kollie, whose activism is dedicated to exposing corruption, stressed that Liberia’s struggles with poverty and underdevelopment were the direct result of “greed and graft.” He further stated that “Liberia can become better, and every Liberian can prosper if we defeat corruption, greed, and public waste. The suffering in Liberia is artificial. It is man-made. Liberia can change for all Liberians, and we must change it by fire by force.”
The controversy surrounding Neufville-Wento has garnered significant attention. Political commentator Vandalerk R. Patricks also weighed in on the matter, calling for equal treatment of public officials. He pointed out that, “A few weeks ago, you (President Joseph Boakai) took unprecedented actions to suspend certain government officials, who were accused of corruption and subjected them to a series of investigations.” Patricks expressed concern over the lack of action taken against Neufville-Wento, questioning why she had not been suspended like other officials facing similar allegations.
The LACC’s investigation centers on a 2023 contract between the NRF and Asian Liberia Investment, Inc., a company that was awarded US$160,000 for the supply of 1,000 solar lamps and poles for Grand Cape Mount County. The LACC claims that only 700 of the promised lamps and poles were delivered, and that instead of being distributed to county authorities, they were handed over to an individual named Idrissa Massalay. Furthermore, 300 of the lamps and poles remain unaccounted for, raising serious questions about their intended use and whereabouts.
In addition to this, the LACC is investigating a diversion of US$410,000, which was allocated for the Madina-Cape Mount Highway project. The funds were reportedly paid to a company named “BLINCO,” under the pretense of road construction. However, no work was ever done, and the money is now unaccounted for. These allegations are compounded by another transaction, which involves a payment of L$277,619 and US$1,400 made to cover bar and license fees for Cllr. Kanio Bai Gbala, a lawyer who is not an employee of the NRF. The LACC has questioned the legitimacy of this payment, suggesting it could be a misuse of public funds for personal gain.
