MONROVIA, LIBERIA – For years, a clandestine network of government officials and shadowy figures has orchestrated a brazen scheme to bleed the Liberian government dry. Through meticulous investigation by veteran Liberian journalist Lyndon Ponnie Sr., the depths of their collusion have been exposed, revealing a systematic plundering of national coffers under the guise of official transactions.
The modus operandi was deceptively simple yet shockingly effective: senior officials within the Ministry of Finance, allegedly in collusion with counterparts at the Central Bank of Liberia, facilitated the embezzlement of millions of United States Dollars and billions of Liberian Dollars. Their method? Channeling funds through shell companies with the complicity of high-ranking government personnel.
Gbapolu County Senator Amara Konneh served as Minister of Finance during the administration of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Despite his position of trust, Konneh either turned a blind eye or was shockingly unaware as the looting unfolded under his watch.
The audacity of the criminal enterprise knew no bounds. In a brazen act on August 14, 2015, a staggering sum of over half a million United States Dollars (US$620,345) was surreptitiously funneled to AKE Enterprises, with the complicity of Finance Ministry officials and the Central Bank. This was just the beginning.
Continuing their spree, in July 2015, US$420,000 was illicitly disbursed to another of the shell entities, SAROSA Business, further deepening the hemorrhage of public funds.
Not content with their initial haul, the cartel authorized additional payments, including US$301,000 to Red Truck Professional Packers on an unspecified date, followed by another US$212,500 on October 1, 2015.
The scope of the malfeasance was astounding. On September 8, 2015, the Ministry of Finance, under the stewardship of Amara Konneh, brazenly disbursed US$582,186, perpetuating the cycle of corruption. The checks were signed by one of Konneh’s deputies.
Such was the impunity with which the scheme operated that an additional US$467,815 was squandered on Red Truck Professional Packers, further compounding the damage inflicted upon Liberia’s finances.
During Amara Konneh’s tenure as Minister of Finance, Liberia encountered three budget shortfalls, prompting his opponents to derisively dub him “Amara Budget Shortfall Konneh.”
A budget shortfall arises when expenses surpass revenue in a budgetary plan, indicating insufficient funds to cover all planned expenditures. Such situations often necessitate adjustments such as expense reduction, revenue augmentation, or borrowing to offset the deficit.
It was particularly alarming to witness millions criminally siphoned from the state coffers amidst Minister Amara Konneh’s tenure, especially during periods of budgetary shortfall.
This narrative unveils a disturbing reality: a cabal of government officials and their criminal cohorts systematically pillaged the nation’s wealth, exploiting their positions of authority for personal gain.
The repercussions of their actions reverberate throughout Liberian society, depriving citizens of essential services and undermining the country’s development prospects.
As investigations continue, the quest for accountability intensifies. The perpetrators of this egregious betrayal of public trust must be swiftly brought to justice, and systemic reforms enacted to safeguard Liberia’s financial integrity.
Efforts made to solicit comments from Senator Amara Konneh, who was minister at the time, were met with evasion and stonewalling.
Despite multiple attempts to engage him, the former minister dodged inquiries, raising further suspicions.
When Konneh was initially contacted, he insisted he would only do the interview on two conditions: that his lawyers be present at the interview and that the interview be recorded. His demands were agreed to by this paper, and the paper even agreed to carry the interview live on Concord Times TV and Smart News Liberia.
When the day of the appointment arrived, Amara Konneh did not avail himself. When we managed to reach him hours after the appointment time, he said he was allegedly working for the people of Liberia at Camp Kessely.
He rescheduled the appointment for the following day in his office at the Capitol Building. And when our team of journalists went to his offices, Senator Amara Konneh refused to see us.
After waiting for an hour, we left without conducting the interview. He called us later to apologize, stating he was in a long meeting with President Joseph Boakai. Senator Konneh again rescheduled the interview for the next day, and when the day came, he said he could not proceed with the interview because he was traveling to the United States on an urgent matter. Upon his return to the country, when he was contacted again, he said he had nothing to say to us.
The future of the nation hinges upon the resolute pursuit of transparency, accountability, and justice for all. In the meantime, watch out for more shocking details in our next edition. Watch out for more shocking details next edition.
