MONROVIA – Prominent activist Martin K. N. Kollie has leveled serious accusations against Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah, alleging significant corruption and misuse of public funds. In a scathing statement on Wednesday, July 10, 2024, Kollie demanded immediate action to address the rampant corruption undermining Liberia’s governance and development.
“A man like Thomas Fallah does not deserve to be Deputy Speaker. He is a criminal. He should be handcuffed for keeping our people in abject poverty,” Kollie declared. He accused Fallah of using public money to procure private trucks and earth-moving machines, which he rents to Western Cluster while Liberia’s roads remain in deplorable condition. Kollie highlighted that Fallah’s company, Desire Construction, operates under a clandestine contract worth $6.8 million USD with Western Cluster, benefiting Fallah personally rather than the nation.
“Do you know what 23 trucks and 10 earth-moving yellow machines could do for our people and for roads across Liberia? Fallah feels satisfied to privately own these assets at people’s expense while they suffer. This is unacceptable,” Kollie emphasized. He further criticized Fallah’s rapid accumulation of wealth, noting his transition from a plank seller to an overnight multimillionaire amid widespread public suffering.
Kollie extended his criticism to other officials, naming Nora Finda Bundoo among those who have similarly enriched themselves at the expense of the public. He called for aggressive reform, starting with the prosecution of past and current corrupt officials, and underscored the urgent need for an economic crimes court.
In a series of recommendations, Kollie urged President Boakai to shut down Western Cluster for operating under a dubious Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) instead of a required Mineral Development Agreement (MDA). He also called for the cancellation of all contracts that Western Cluster has with public officials, citing conflicts of interest and violations of the 2014 Code of Conduct Law and the 2009 Public Financial Management Law.
Kollie insisted that President Boakai must audit and prosecute key figures from the past Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) government, including former President George Weah, former First Laday Clar Weah, former Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah, former Minister of State Nathaniel McGill, and several others. “These people looted millions of public money. President Boakai promised to hire an international audit firm to hold these people accountable. If Boakai doesn’t hold them accountable, it is highly likely that they could use the stolen millions to undermine his government after a year,” Kollie concluded.
The activist’s bold statements underscore a growing demand for accountability and transparency in Liberia’s political and economic spheres. As the nation grapples with these allegations, the call for justice and reform resonates powerfully among the Liberian people.
