Liberia’s Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah, who is the chairman of the board of directors of the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS) has publicly confessed his media aide, Aloysius Howe has been paid US$160 thousand by LISGIS.
Minister Tweah told Spoon FM radio that he has been informed that the money was paid to Howe for Public Relations services he allegedly provided to LISGIS.
The Finance Minister claimed the payment to Howe by LISGIS is being investigated, without saying who was investigating the allegation.
Martin Kollie had earlier accused Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah’s media assistant, Aloysius Howe, of allegedly withdrawing 160k from LISGIS’ account on October 19, 2022, on Cheque tee– BG CHK330, Ref. J01CQWL222920084.
Activist Martin Kollie, had launched a blistering and sustained attack on the person of the Liberia Finance Minister for allegedly being responsible for the financial crisis at LISGIS.
Martin Kollie had revealed in a series of publications that Liberia’s census for 2023 is in jeopardy for alleged corruption.
He accused officials at LISGIS and the Minister of Finance of allegedly stealing monies intended for the conduct of the census.
Martin Kollie disclosed the Finance Minister who is the chairman of the census board was manipulating the situation at LISGIS and stealing monies that are intended to fund the holding of the census. Koillie has not been able to show documentary evidence of his allegations.
According to Martin Kollie, the Government of Liberia through LISGIS controls and manages two different Census Accounts at Eco-bank Liberia Limited; and disclosed that all monies transferred from GOL Ministry of Finance to LISGIS into these accounts should be deposited directly into “The Census Basket Fund” which is controlled and managed by UNFPA.
But Kollie alleges this has not been the case. And because this has not been the case, Kollie states that the country has not gone to the census.
“Monies into these accounts have been and are being siphoned and stolen by Wilmot Smith, Lawrence George, Dominic Paye, and Francis F. Wreh”, Kollie notes. The Three are officials of LISGiS.
He released a United States Dollars Account No. 6100064362. In this account, Kollie says the Liberian Government deposited $2,000,569.68 USD to LISGIS as a first contribution, US$340,643.89 as a second deposit to LISGIS, bringing the total to US$2,341,213.57.
Kollie reports that out of over $2.3 million USD, LISGIS only deposited $700,000 USD in “The Basket Fund”, while the rest of the money cannot be accounted for.
Martin Kollie promised to reveal specific so-called expenditures including cheques of how Wilmot Smith and his “gang stole millions at LISGIS which has prevented Liberia from conducting its National Population and Housing Census.”
“Do you know who’s emboldening and protecting Wilmot Smith to steal? Samuel D. Tweah is at the center of this SCAM and State plunder”, according to Kollie.
The finance minister’s latest confession gives credence to Kollie’s allegations, according to one political analyst.
You did not care to mention the purpose of the money Aloysius received. This is hypocrisy. Bring facts to the public rather than mere sentiments or business topics to attract customers.
The money was given for external PR job for LISGIS. The brother worked for the money, shouldn’t he receive what he worked for?
[…] the Board of Directors of LISGIS confirmed LISGIS paid Howe US$160 thousand for his (Howe) Public Relations services he allegedly provided to the […]