Monrovia – An investigation conducted by FrontPageAfrica has established that there was no foul play in the awarding of the $322,441 renovation contract by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, according to documents reviewed by the publication.
By Willie Tokpah
The allegations, which accuse senior officials of self-dealing, have been widely circulated on social media, sparking public outcry. However, a closer examination of the procurement process and related documents suggests that the ministry followed the Public Procurement and Concessions Act (PPCA), which governs public contracts in Liberia.
According to the procurement documents reviewed, the contract was awarded after a competitive bidding process. A bid opening and evaluation committee conducted the ev…
[10:00 PM, 1/2/2025] Selma FPA Lomax: Monrovia – An investigation conducted by FrontPageAfrica has established that there was no foul play in the awarding of the $322,441 renovation contract by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, according to documents reviewed by the publication.
The allegations, which accuse senior officials of self-dealing, have been widely circulated on social media, sparking public outcry. However, a closer examination of the procurement process and related documents suggests that the ministry followed the Public Procurement and Concessions Act (PPCA), which governs public contracts in Liberia.
According to the procurement documents reviewed, the contract was awarded after a competitive bidding process. A bid opening and evaluation committee conducted the evaluations independently using the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC) as a guiding law, particularly as the contract exceeded $200,000, the threshold that calls for National Competitive Bidding (NCB).
The documents explicitly state that the process adhered strictly to the PPCC Act and was conducted transparently, ensuring fairness and compliance.
Deputy Minister Bill McGill Jones, who has been at the center of the allegations, emphasized that neither he nor Assistant Minister Paul Lamin was involved in awarding the contract. He also categorically denied any ownership interest in the companies involved or any ownership of their relatives.
Critics have pointed to alleged links between senior ministry officials and the companies awarded the contract. However, the PPCC process does not disqualify bidders based on personal associations unless these associations directly influence the outcome of the procurement.
The investigation clarified that knowing someone associated with a bidding company does not automatically constitute a conflict of interest under the law and that the process was overseen by independent evaluators other than these senior officials and subject to PPCC approval.
Sources close to the situation suggest that the allegations originated from an unsuccessful bidder who failed to meet the procurement criteria. The individual reportedly chose to air grievances publicly instead of filing a formal complaint with the PPCC, the appropriate authority for such disputes.
The MFDP documents further note: “Aggrieved bidders have a clear timeline and mechanism for lodging complaints. Any failure to follow these procedures undermines the credibility of such claims.”
No Evidence of Irregularities.
An independent legal expert consulted for this investigation confirmed that the procurement process, as outlined in the provided documentation, aligns with Liberia’s procurement laws. “The safeguards within the PPCC Act, including oversight by the PPCC, minimize opportunities for manipulation in high-value contracts,” the expert stated.
This controversy highlights the challenges of maintaining public trust in government institutions amid widespread misinformation. While the MFDP appears to have followed due process, the incident underscores the importance of timely and transparent communication from public agencies to dispel doubts.
As Liberia continues its governance reforms, the case serves as a reminder of the need for robust systems to address grievances and prevent misinformation from undermining public confidence in state institutions. Lastly, based on our review of key documents, the record showed that institutions like the US Embassy, Ministry of Education, and General Auditing Commission, amongst others, provided letters of recommendations for Elite Contractors & Global Services as a reputable, reliable, and committed Liberian company due to its performance and timely delivery of assigned tasks.
