MONROVIA – Political analyst Ambulah Maimey has raised serious concerns regarding alleged fraudulent debt claims against the Liberian government, highlighting findings from the General Auditing Commission’s (GAC) recent report. Maimey dissected the report and pointed to what he described as systematic attempts by some businesses to inflate government debts for personal gain.
“The GAC Report on the Debt Scam is out! But your guess what? Finda Bundoo’s Daughter Company, known as Anita Group of Companies, is at number 5 and number 6 on the list of 77 businesses that the GAC booked for trying to take 704 million USD through a debt scam,” Maimey stated.
According to Maimey, the Ministry of Finance has occasionally allowed businesses to claim government debts, but in many instances, the legitimacy of these claims is questionable. “People at the Ministry of Finance can put businesses’ names down and say the government owes them. Some names on the list can be real, some can be scams, while others can be real but the guys can increase the amount the government owes and take kickbacks,” he explained.
Maimey detailed the case involving Finda Bundoo’s daughter, noting that during former President George Weah’s administration, officials at the Ministry of Finance reportedly claimed that Liberia owed the company over half a million dollars (USD 768,636.00). “But they could not show the work the company did for government. So GAC said, before your pay, we want to check,” he said.
He explained that the GAC’s investigative approach involved requiring all businesses claiming government debts to submit proof of work or contracts to the Commission. “GAC has been putting announcements outside and telling Finda Bundoo’s business and all the other businesses that say the government owes them to carry their contracts to GAC or just show the work they did. The last announcement was in December 2024,” Maimey noted.
Despite repeated notifications, Maimey said Finda Bundoo and her daughter failed to provide any documentation proving that their company had legitimately earned over half a million dollars from government contracts. “From December 2024 to today, Finda and her daughter failed to provide anything to show that their company did over half a million work for the government. Therefore, GAC canceled the claim that government owes Finda Daughter’s Company,” he said.
The political analyst warned that such fraudulent claims could significantly strain Liberia’s financial management systems and undermine public trust. He emphasized the importance of stringent oversight and verification of all government debt claims to prevent misuse of public funds.
Maimey urged the public and government officials to pay close attention to the GAC report, stating that it exposes not only the misuse of funds but also the vulnerabilities in government financial processes that allow such scams to emerge. “This is a wake-up call for transparency in how government debts are processed and paid,” he said.
He also highlighted the broader implications for Liberia’s economy, noting that inflated or fraudulent debt claims divert funds from essential services and development projects. “When you have businesses trying to scam the government, it affects the whole country. Public resources are limited, and every dollar lost to fraud is a dollar not spent on healthcare, education, or infrastructure,” Maimey remarked.
The GAC report, according to Maimey, is a critical step in identifying and curbing such fraudulent practices. He praised the Commission for taking a firm stance on verifying claims before disbursing government funds.
Maimey’s analysis has reignited debate over government accountability and the need for stronger financial oversight mechanisms. Observers say the report could have far-reaching effects if the authorities enforce stricter checks on all claims for government debt payments.
He concluded by urging Liberians to remain vigilant and demand accountability from both public officials and private entities claiming government funds. “It is not just about one company; it is about safeguarding the integrity of Liberia’s financial system for all citizens,” Maimey emphasized.
