MONROVIA – In a commentary released Friday, April 4, 2025, exiled Liberian activist Martin K. N. Kollie accused senior government officials of orchestrating what he calls “a grand daylight robbery” of the Liberian people through a grossly inflated US$79 million yellow machines procurement deal. Kollie, a former student leader and vocal government critic, claimed that sustained public pressure and investigative advocacy saved Liberia from losing US$57 million in what he labeled a “criminal syndicate disguised as a development initiative.”
Kollie’s blistering statement followed an announcement by the Ministry of Information confirming that the controversial deal for 285 yellow machines has been renegotiated from an initial US$43 million down to US$22 million. However, Kollie challenged that figure, asserting with documentary evidence that the actual total cost was never US$43 million but a staggering US$79 million. “They lied. The true cost was US$79.4 million. This is what they never wanted you to know,” he declared.
He published the full breakdown of the equipment costs as detailed in the financing agreement—allegedly approved without proper procurement or legislative processes. According to the document, Liberia had already committed to paying four annual installments of US$19.8 million beginning February 1, 2025. Kollie exposed what he called “intentionally manufactured and inflated prices” on equipment such as motor graders, excavators, backhoes, fuel tankers, and service trucks—deals he claims were tailored to enrich a few politically connected individuals.
“All the fanfare and urgency around this deal between May and July 2024 was nothing more than a coordinated attempt to steal US$57 million from the people,” Kollie wrote. “It was a full-blown criminal enterprise, and they were counting on the silence of the public. But we refused to be silent.”
He alleged that despite warnings and the exposure of proforma invoices from Chinese suppliers offering far lower prices, the government proceeded with the initial plan and even imported some equipment. “They were determined to rob us. They had a motive. But we blocked them,” he added.
Kollie has now called for the immediate suspension of Minister of State Sylvester Grigsby and Public Works Minister Mamaka Bility, whom he described as the architects of the scandal. “They must be held accountable. This is not just a lapse in judgment, it is criminal,” he emphasized.
He also demanded full transparency regarding the new US$22 million renegotiated deal, including disclosure of procurement procedures, bidding requirements, and whether the new financing terms require legislative ratification. Kollie insisted that the Liberian people deserve to know the full scope of what was nearly stolen in their name.
In addition to financial concerns, the activist questioned the logistics and sustainability of managing 285 machines, pointing out unresolved issues such as fuel sourcing, maintenance, manpower, and equitable distribution across counties with differing road needs. “What informed the decision to assign 19 machines to each county? Was there a study? Or was this just another political stunt?” he asked.
Kollie’s criticism did not stop at the government. He also condemned the culture of silence and complacency in the face of blatant corruption, warning that Liberia is losing tens of millions annually to procurement fraud. ““The suffering of the people is not natural, it is engineered by greed and corruption at the highest levels,” he stated. “This US$57 million heist was only stalled because we fought back. But how many more are we not seeing?”
In closing, Kollie confirmed that copies of his findings have been shared with international stakeholders, including the U.S. State Department, IMF, World Bank, African Union, ECOWAS, and local institutions such as the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission and the General Auditing Commission. “We won’t back down,” he said. “Liberia deserves better, and the Liberian people will not be fooled again.”
