MONROVIA – In a blistering expose released on Monday, September 23, 2024, prominent anti-corruption activist Martin K. N. Kollie has unleashed a series of serious allegations against the leadership of the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC). The statement, titled “Disturbing Discovery at LEC: Liberia, ‘The Oldest Banana Republic in Africa – When will this change? Part 1,” has shaken the foundations of Liberia’s already troubled power sector. Kollie’s report, accompanied by damning supporting documents, highlights the alleged mismanagement and exorbitant salaries of LEC’s CEO Monie Captan and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Kwame Kpekpena, a Ghanaian consultant.
Kollie accuses Captan and Kpekpena of deceiving the Liberian public into believing their salaries, totaling a staggering US$44,169 monthly, are funded by the World Bank. He reveals that these payments actually come directly from the Government of Liberia through LEC, and not the World Bank, as the two officials have purported. “We are ending this LIE and misconception today,” Kollie wrote, providing evidence that contradicts the officials’ claims.
The report details that Captan earns US$17,514 per month (US$210,168 annually), while Kpekpena pockets an even higher sum of US$26,655 monthly (US$319,860 annually). Kollie criticized these figures as unjustified in a country where over 65,000 civil servants make an average of US$150 per month. He further points out that the salaries of these two individuals exceed those of Liberia’s highest-ranking officials, including the president, vice president, and chief justice.
Moreover, Kollie questioned the qualifications of both Captan and Kpekpena. He lambasted Captan, whose educational background is in political science and international relations, for lacking the expertise needed to manage Liberia’s power sector. Kollie also accused Kpekpena of falsifying his credentials, specifically claiming an M.Sc. in Energy that he allegedly does not possess.
The report comes amid increasing challenges at LEC, including a mounting debt of US$19.7 million owed to Ivory Coast for electricity imports. According to Kollie, despite the LEC’s financial troubles, the leadership has done little to address ongoing issues such as widespread power theft, limited electricity access, and Monrovia’s persistent blackout.
Kollie called for an immediate audit of Captan’s administration before their contracts expire on November 30, 2024. He warned President Joseph Nyuma Boakai against renewing the contracts, stating that any extension would contradict Boakai’s 2023 campaign promises of reform and transparency.
The activist concluded his statement with a grim portrayal of Liberia’s situation, describing it as a “Banana Republic” where public resources are misused for the enrichment of a select few while the general populace continues to suffer in darkness.
This expose has sent shockwaves, raising urgent questions about governance, accountability, and the future of Liberia’s power sector. As the country heads toward a critical juncture, all eyes will be on President Boakai’s next move regarding the leadership of the Liberia Electricity Corporation.
