Published: October 8, 2024
MONROVIA – A major illegal scheme involving the collection of unauthorized fees, falsely presented as municipal taxes, has been exposed in Garworlohn Township, Bushrod Island. The revelation has sparked outrage among local business owners in Doe Community, who say they were coerced into paying US$35 without prior notice or proper explanation.
According to the affected business owners, township staffers demanded US$30 as a municipal tax and an additional $5 for directional signage, threatening to shut down their businesses if they refused to comply. However, the responsibility for collecting municipal taxes lies solely with the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC), not the township authorities.
Some business owners, fearing the potential repercussions of noncompliance, reluctantly paid part of the demanded fees. They expressed frustration, claiming that they were informed only later that the funds were meant for cleaning the township. Adding to the confusion, township staffers allegedly told business owners that the MCC was no longer involved in local cleanup efforts.
In response, Pekeleh Gbuapaye, an official of the MCC, expressed shock when contacted by The Liberian Investigator. He confirmed that the MCC was unaware of the illegal fee collection and vowed to summon Garworlohn Township Commissioner Rudolph Siafa Buima for clarification.
Following a meeting, Gbuapaye reported that Commissioner Buima denied any involvement in the unauthorized scheme. However, when The Liberian Investigator reached out to the township’s finance head, Elizabeth Weah, she admitted to signing the bills issued to business owners but denied personally authorizing the collection, placing the responsibility on Commissioner Buima and other township officials.
Contrary to Buima’s denial, an official in his office confirmed that the Commissioner was fully aware of the arrangement to collect fees from businesses. The Clerk in Buima’s office admitted that the township had overstepped its authority and acknowledged that the collected funds were intended to be placed in an escrow account. The Clerk defended the move, explaining that the funds were needed to purchase logistics and compensate local residents hired for township cleanup efforts, none of whom were on the government payroll.
The Liberian Investigator will continue to follow this developing story and provide updates as more information becomes available.
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