By Socrates Smythe Saywon
MONROVIA – Matthew Nyanplu, a former Assistant Minister for Information Services at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) and now a vocal critic of President Joseph Boakai’s Unity Party (UP) administration, has renewed his sharp criticism of Finance Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan over a controversial building painting contract awarded by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP).
In a fiery Facebook post on Monday, July 28, 2025, Nyanplu branded Minister Ngafuan as a “fraud and corruption accomplice,” accusing him of allowing a fraudulent contract to proceed despite damning evidence. “Ngafuan is a fraud and corruption accomplice! He refused to terminate the painting contract with the Elite Group that forged a US Embassy Letter,” Nyanplu wrote. “Investigation is cover for fraud, Ngaf! Unity Party and their scammers are all big liars!”
Nyanplu claimed that the controversial contract, valued at $244,441, was awarded to Elite Group despite the fact that its supporting documentation included a forged letter from the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia. The Embassy has reportedly discredited the letter as fake, citing numerous inconsistencies and grammatical errors. Nyanplu further alleged that the line item for “media intelligence” remained in MICAT’s budget to facilitate secretive spending, even after concerns had been raised during his tenure.
The former official intensified his attack on Deputy Minister for Administration at the MFDP, Bill McGill Jones, who he claims knowingly approved the questionable contract. “This is shameful conduct,” Nyanplu stated. “Yet Bill went ahead and awarded these groups such a hefty contract. Bill, you are a bad actor and should be terminated.”
He also questioned the Ministry’s motives, asking whether officials had a personal stake in the deal. “Does the MFDP have a vested interest in this $244,000 deal?” he asked, accusing the government of orchestrating a “syndicate to defraud the people.”
Despite mounting public outrage, the MFDP has not issued a formal response to the allegations. However, Deputy Minister Jones has publicly denied any wrongdoing. He dismissed the accusations as “baseless, deceptive, and an intentional attempt to damage his reputation,” and maintained that the procurement process adhered to Liberia’s Public Procurement and Concessions Law.
Nyanplu has not relented. As far back as January 9, 2025, he had called for President Boakai to suspend Jones and initiate a full criminal investigation into the matter. He insists that the contract must be terminated immediately and that Elite Group’s owners should be prosecuted. He also recommended that future contracts be overseen by independent engineering firms or government institutions such as the Ministry of Public Works.
The controversy has cast a dark shadow over the Boakai administration’s pledge to fight corruption. Critics argue that the handling of this case contradicts the president’s public statements on accountability. Some observers have even pointed to the reported $100,000 payouts allegedly made to illegally remove Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) commissioners, accusing the administration of hypocrisy and political favoritism.
In a related critique, Nyanplu also condemned FrontPage Africa (FPA), accusing the prominent news outlet of compromising its journalistic integrity by retracting an article on the MFDP scandal without offering a public apology. “Good practice dictates that when you retract or correct a story, you do not delete the original article,” Nyanplu argued. “Only a court of law can clear anyone of wrongdoing, not a newsroom.”
He urged the Liberian media to resist financial influence and remain true to ethical reporting standards. “Don’t allow heavy money to cloud your ethical judgment,” he warned.
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