MONROVIA, LIBERIA – Margibi County Senator and former Minister of State Nathaniel F. McGill has taken a bold stance in Liberia’s ongoing fight against corruption. In a formal communication set to be submitted to the Senate Plenary on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, McGill is urging the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) to launch an immediate investigation into serious allegations of fraud, abuse of power, and corruption involving the Minister of Commerce Amin Modad.
Senator McGill, who has been vocal about holding public officials accountable, highlighted troubling issues related to the Minister of Commerce’s past financial dealings. He pointed to the minister’s role as a board member of the Former First International Bank (FIB), now SIB, questioning how the minister failed to settle a $400,000 debt to the bank, a factor that allegedly contributed to the institution’s bankruptcy. Adding to the concerns, McGill raised the issue of how the minister was able to afford a yacht, reportedly similar in cost to one purchased by former President William Tubman, amid financial mismanagement.
“This investigation should not only focus on the minister’s role in the bank’s bankruptcy but also address the unauthorized purchase of a vehicle for the Minister of Commerce by the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA),” McGill stated. “The LRA, as a revenue collection agency, has no mandate to buy vehicles for government officials. He who comes to equity must come with clean hands.”
These explosive allegations come at a time when public confidence in Liberia’s anti-corruption institutions is being tested, and McGill’s call for accountability is likely to ignite significant political and public interest.
In addition to his call for an LACC investigation, McGill disclosed that he did not support the recently passed 2024 recast budget. He expressed grave concerns over reported budget alterations, particularly the unexplained increase in the wage bill by $3 million, while civil servants were being removed from the payroll.
“I want it to be clear that I did not vote for the 2024 recast budget due to the concerns we raised about alterations,” McGill said, referring to an Ad-hoc Committee report that confirmed the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) had made significant changes to the budget. “We were not convinced that those issues were fully addressed. Additionally, the logic behind increasing the wage bill while cutting civil servants was never explained.”
Senator McGill’s statements have sparked renewed calls for transparency and scrutiny of the government’s financial practices. His insistence on an investigation into the Commerce Minister’s alleged misconduct and his concerns about the recast budget come at a critical moment in Liberia’s governance, as the country grapples with mounting public pressure for greater accountability.
As the Senate prepares to respond to McGill’s request, all eyes will be on the LACC to see if they will act swiftly on the senator’s call for a comprehensive investigation into the allegations of corruption, fraud, and abuse of power that have clouded the Ministry of Commerce.
