By: Jamesetta D Williams
The Government of Liberia has taken sweeping actions across multiple sectors to reinforce transparency, accountability, and national development, as announced by Deputy Minister for Press and Public Affairs, Hon. Daniel O. Sando, at a recent MICAT press briefing.
Among the key highlights was the indictment of several top officials of the National Disaster Management Agency and affiliated institutions over the disappearance of 25,000 bags of rice, donated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in April 2023. The rice, valued at over US$425,000, was meant for disaster victims across the country. According to Sando, the accused have been arrested and forwarded to court, with some being transferred to Monrovia Central Prison after failing to post bail.
“This is not about targeting anyone—it is about ensuring accountability and transparency in the management of public resources,” Sando stated firmly.
The Deputy Minister also reaffirmed government support to the Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce, whose mandate—renewed by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai—continues to face legal challenges but remains active in retrieving stolen state assets.
In a related move, the President has suspended several senior government officials over allegations of corruption and administrative malpractice. Among them are Christopher D. Sample, Director-General of the Liberia Agricultural Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA), and his deputy Achibi Gali, pending investigations by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission and an audit by the General Auditing Commission. Similar action was taken against Mr. S. Massa, Director-General of the Bureau of State Enterprises, over reported financial improprieties.
The President has appointed interim officials to these institutions and directed all suspended individuals to turn over government properties immediately.
On the agriculture front, Deputy Minister Sando announced that Liberia will soon receive 288 modern agricultural machines from China, including seed planters, rice transplanters, and harvesters, as part of a bilateral agreement signed during the 2024 China-Africa Cooperation Forum. The equipment, intended to improve rice production and reduce Liberia’s reliance on imports, will be distributed across five major farming zones.
“The Chinese government is also sending technical teams for training and maintenance support, with all equipment backed by a one-year warranty,” Sando noted, calling the move a “major step toward food self-sufficiency.”
“These actions signal the Boakai administration’s strong commitment to good governance, rule of law, and national development,” Sando concluded, promising more updates as investigations and enforcement efforts unfold.
