Official Press Statement

Press Statement

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press

We invite you here today to address some crucial issues some of which have already been reported in the press. This office is particularly concerned about two issues:

1.       The Used Motor Grader purchased by Bomi County Superintendent, Hon.     Mohammed A. Massaley;

2.       The purchase of 350 and 250 KVA Generators by Nimba County Superintendent, Hon. Edith Gongloe Weh

                                          Bomi County Situation

For the record, on May 29, 2008, we received a letter under the signatures of Mr. Clarence V. Cooper, Chairman of the Project Management Committee (PMC) for Bomi County and Hon. Mohammed A. Massalley, Bomi County Superintendent, seeking permission for an exemption to purchase one USED MOTOR GRADER without going through the normal bidding process.  Regrettably, Superintendent Massaley, in total disregard for established procedures or laws as regard the procurement of goods, works, and consultant services as contained in the PPC Act, took a decision to procure the USED MOTOR GRADER, without the approval of PPCC. The law gives PPCC the right to approve or disapprove any exemption request based on its careful analysis. We therefore view the action of Superintendent Massalley as a willful attempt to contravene the PPC Act which is very keen on ensuring value for public funds in public procurement.  To this end, we like to make it known here that the decision of Superintendent Massalley to procure the USED Motor GRADER was never sanctioned by PPCC, and as such it is a violation.                                       

                                      Nimba County Situation

Ladies and Gentlemen of the press, on May 12, 2010, the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC), received a letter from Nimba County Superintendent, Hon. Edith Gongloe-Weh, seeking approval from the Commission to single source the purchase of 350 and 250KVA Generators in the amount of US$115,000.00, for what Superintendent Gongloe-Weh referred to as electrification of Sanniquillie City. Additionally, Superintendent Gongloe-Weh informed this Commission that she was constrained with time as the County prepares to host the 163^rd July Independence Day Celebration and that she wishes to use a portion of the Countyís Arcelor Mittal Social Development funds for the aforementioned purchases.

In response to Superintendent Gongloe-Wehís letter, the PPCC said, ìConsequently, the Commission wishes to inform you that the aforementioned justification provided to support your request for ìNo Objectionî is in direct contravention of the law.  As you are aware, the Commission is charged with enhancing the economic development of Liberia by promoting competition, fostering participation in procurement proceedings, providing equal access without discrimination to all eligible and qualified providers of goods, works and services, and most importantly, achieving transparency in the procedures, processes, and decisions. In view of the above, the Commission advises the use of the appropriate competitive bidding method, as prescribed by the PPC Act to carry out procurement of said generators referenced above.î  This response, ladies and gentlemen of the press, was contained in a communication addressed to Superintendent Gongloe-Weh, dated May 13, 2010. Copies of said communication were also sent to Internal Affairs Minister, Hon. Harrison Karnwea and Nimba County Legislative Caucus.

Despite the disapproval of the sole sourcing request made to the PPCC by Superintendent Gongloe Weh, the purchase of the two generators was carried out contrary to the provisions of the Act which require that procurement of goods, works and consultant services for government ministries, agencies and public corporations be done in accordance with the PPC Act.  But Superintendent Gongloe-Weh, having willfully violated the PPC Act, on June 14, 2010, addressed another letter to the Commission to appeal for consideration. In her letter of appeal to the Commission, Superintendent Gongloe Weh said ìWe would like to appeal to your office at this time for consideration in the purchases already made. Given the time constraints we face in preparing for hosting the 2010 Independence Celebrations of the Republic of Liberia, the people of Nimba County, through the countyís 2010 independence Steering Committee, advised that we sanction those purchases to avoid potential delays, which are now evident in the case of electric poles.î

                           Conclusion         

We like to clearly state that the PPCC will not take lightly the violations committed  by both Superintendents Mohammed A. Massalley of Bomi County and Edith Gongloe-Weh of Nimba County. The Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC), will take recourse to the law to address such violations. PPCC will not, in any event compromise its mandate of ensuring economic and efficient use of public funds in public procurement. We will execute our mandate to the letter and protect the country from economic waste and abuse.

Signed: ---------------------------------------

                Nathan N. Bengu

               Director of Information Dissemination & Communications