MONROVIA – Liberian activist Martin K. N. Kollie has accused the Executive Director of the Liberia Agency for Community Empowerment (LACE), Julius Sele, of misusing and wasting US$675,000 on consultations and tours across six counties. The funds, intended to facilitate local engagement in Nimba, Bong, Grand Bassa, Bomi, Grand Gedeh, and Lofa, allegedly covered inflated expenses without delivering tangible development.
In a public statement circulating online, Kollie described the spending as “institutionalized thievery” and called for accountability. He questioned how such a significant amount could be spent solely on consultations without evidence of infrastructure development. “He didn’t even build a toilet or a mini-market with this money,” Kollie remarked, criticizing what he described as an abuse of public resources.
A breakdown of the expenditure provided by Kollie claims that US$160,000 was allocated for local district consultations. However, community leaders in the affected counties reportedly confirmed that they received no financial support from LACE. “How can anyone even spend a whopping US$160K just to consult? Not to build anything but just to consult,” Kollie questioned.
Further scrutiny reveals that US$133,000 was spent on vehicle rentals for a 20-day period, an amount Kollie argues could purchase at least two new Toyota Land Cruisers. “They paid US$6,650 per day just to rent a car. Did that car come from Heaven?” he asked.
Other contested expenses include US$84,000 on daily sustenance allowances (DSA), despite LACE staff already receiving salaries and benefits. Kollie alleged that this payment violates Liberia’s Travel Ordinance Law on domestic allowances.
Additionally, US$37,500 was reportedly spent on media engagements across the six counties. However, according to Kollie, community radio stations contacted denied receiving such payments. Another US$45,625 was attributed to consultations with engineers, despite LACE employing its own engineering staff.
Kollie further claimed that LACE allocated US$21,200 simply to “engage and negotiate” for office space. Residents and local stakeholders in the targeted counties reportedly expressed ignorance regarding such transactions.
The activist’s allegations have drawn the attention of several national and international bodies, including the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia, the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), and the Office of the Auditor General. Kollie called on these institutions to investigate what he described as “broad-day looting” and to hold Julius Sele and his team accountable.
