MONROVIA, LIBERIA – Executive Director of the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) Atty. Ansu V.S. Dulleh is facing mounting pressure to account for over US$1.3 million in public funds following serious allegations of financial mismanagement and procurement fraud. The accusations, led by prominent Liberian activist Martin K. N. Kollie, suggest that Dulleh manipulated budget reports and inflated the costs of substandard vehicles procured under his leadership.
In a detailed public statement, Kollie outlined evidence alleging that Atty. Dulleh presented falsified financial reports to justify substantial expenditures. The most striking claim involves the purchase of two used 17-seater Force Traveller buses at an alleged cost of US$81,000—a figure critics argue is grossly inflated. Kollie pointed to comparative purchases by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (MPTC) and the Oilers Sports Association (OSA), which reportedly acquired similar 21-seater buses for US$28,600 each.
According to Kollie, the buses procured by Dulleh were not only more expensive but also deemed “unfit for use” by the General Services Agency (GSA) in January 2025. “Nowhere in the world is a 17-seater Force Traveller bus sold for US$40,500, even when including costs, insurance, and freight,” Kollie asserted, raising concerns that the purchase involved a potential kickback scheme.
Further fueling the controversy, Kollie alleged that Dulleh bypassed NDMA’s internal procurement processes by excluding his two deputies and other technical staff. Under NDMA’s structure, procurement duties fall within the jurisdiction of the Deputy Executive Directors for Administration and Operations. Kollie argued that the deliberate circumvention of these officials suggests a coordinated effort to conceal irregularities.
In addition to the vehicle purchase, Kollie accused Dulleh of submitting two conflicting budget performance reports to the Legislature and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP). The reports, Kollie claims, contain fabricated achievements aimed at justifying the agency’s US$1.3 million expenditure for the 2024 fiscal year.
Among the accomplishments listed by Dulleh are the development of a national disaster database, updates to the multi-hazard contingency plan, and a risk assessment on coastal erosion in Sinoe County. However, Kollie argues these initiatives were completed by Dulleh’s predecessor, Henry O. Williams, long before Dulleh assumed office. “The national disaster database was created in 2019, not 2024,” Kollie said, branding Dulleh’s claims as “blatant misrepresentation.”
Kollie further discredited Dulleh’s assertion that NDMA financed the Early Warning for All Initiatives, clarifying that the project was supported by international agencies, including the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). “There is no evidence that Dulleh’s leadership conducted any independent risk assessment,” Kollie added.
The allegations come at a time when public scrutiny of government spending is intensifying. In light of the mounting evidence, Kollie called on the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) to launch an independent investigation. He warned against potential compromises in the Senate’s ongoing inquiry into Dulleh’s financial management.
In response to the allegations, the NDMA issued a press statement dismissing Kollie’s claims as “despicable, false, and misleading.” The agency defended the vehicle purchase, claiming the buses acquired under Dulleh’s leadership were new and included upgraded features like air conditioning and a one-year service plan, which they argue justify the price difference.
The NDMA also insisted that the transaction complied with the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC) Act and adhered to regulations set by the GSA. “We categorically reject the assertion that US$1.3 million is unaccounted for,” the statement read, while reaffirming the agency’s willingness to undergo governmental scrutiny.
“The suffering in Liberia is artificial,” Kollie declared. “It is man-made, and those responsible must be held accountable.”
