Representative Yekeh Kolubah of Montserrado County District #10 is pressing President-elect Joseph Boakai to publicly reveal the source of the LD$ 10 million he just contributed as a relief to the victims of the gas truck disaster in Totota, Bong County.
The controversial Montserrado County lawmaker claimed that the source of such a sum was dubious since, despite holding the office for 12 years as vice president, Ambassador Boakai has admitted to the Liberian people that he is a borrower.
Representative Kolubah asked about President-elect Boakai’s ability to raise such a substantial sum of money in a significant press conference on Sunday, January 7, 2024, in Monrovia, given that he has only a few days left before taking office.
He claims that Ambassador Boakai has been given a three-day ultimatum to clarify the source of the monies, which he (Yekeh) believes may be connected to political favoritism and corruption that is being concealed in order for it to surface in the incoming Unity Party government.
It has been more than seven days, thus Ambassador Boakai must inform the Liberians who donated the LD$ 10 million plus 200 bags of rice. According to the rule of conduct, any public servant who receives more than $200 US from the Liberian people in a seven-day period is prohibited.
“It is a challenge to you President-elect Joseph Nyumah Boakai in an additional three days to tell the Liberia people who give you the ten million dollars, if you fail to tell the Liberia people in the three days, I will inform the Liberia people who give you the money” , he said.
In hindsight, Bong County recently received a polite visit by President-elect Joseph Boakai, First Lady Katuma Boakai, and a few Unity Party leaders in remembrance of the residents who perished in Totota during the fatal gas truck explosion.
Ambassador Boakai then gave ten million Liberian dollars and two hundred bags weighing twenty-five kg of rice to the victims during a church ceremony on behalf of himself and his family.
Representative Yekeh Kolubah asserted that the President-elect violates sections 1.3.2 and 1.3 part six of the National Code of Conduct, which require elected or public officials to disclose any casual gift exceeding Two Hundred United States Dollars if the said fund was in that direction. Kolubah did acknowledge the good intentions behind the gesture.
While this is going on, the tough-talking Representative has promised to share more intelligence-related details if Ambassador Boakai does not inform the public of the source of the amount after the three-day deadline.
made the audacious claim that the Coalition for Democratic Change government that was leaving office would be less corrupt than the Unity Party administration when it took office.
The legislator from District 10 feels that early accountability and openness are important if the Unity Party’s future government is to maintain the public’s trust.
With just 14 days left before Boakai takes office as president of the Republic of Liberia, the demand hangs over him.
