Monrovia — Nearly four months since the Liberian Senate’s Special Ad-Hoc Committee issued its findings and recommendations on the controversial Destination Inspection (DI) contract with MedTech Scientific, little has been done to act on the Senate’s conclusions. The investigation, which uncovered egregious violations of public procurement laws and questionable financial practices, appears to have been shelved.
The Unity Party government’s silence on the Senate’s recommendations has become highly conspicuous, casting doubt on their criticisms of the George Weah administration’s consummation of the deal, which they claimed was exploitative, with revenues reportedly unaccounted for and mismanaged.
The MedTech Scientific controversy centers on a Destination Inspection contract awarded in July 2021, which granted the company the responsibility to manage customs inspection functions on behalf of the Government of Liberia (GoL). Under the agreement, the revenue-sharing arrangement allocated 80 percent of the revenue to MedTech, leaving the government with just 20 percent. The Senate Ad-Hoc Committee’s final report, released in September 2024, highlighted significant irregularities in the awarding and management of the contract. It concluded that the agreement violated the Public Procurement and Concessions Act (PPCA) and lacked the legislative ratification required for contracts exceeding US$10 million, particularly those involving tax exemptions.
The Senate investigation revealed that testimonies during the hearings indicated that the late Commissioner-General of the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), Thomas Doe Nah, instructed MedTech to manage the government’s 20 percent revenue share outside of the established public financial management frameworks. This decision, the Senate found, “exposed the funds to significant governance and accountability lapses.”
The Ad-Hoc Committee, chaired by Senator Amara Konneh, made sweeping recommendations to address the irregularities and ensure accountability. Among its key recommendations, the Senate urged the Executive Branch to immediately review and renegotiate the contract to ensure compliance with Liberian laws. The renegotiation was to focus on increasing the government’s revenue share, investing in critical customs infrastructure, and prioritizing transparency. The Committee also recommended a comprehensive audit of all funds managed by MedTech on behalf of the GoL. It stressed the importance of recovering funds that were improperly managed and ensuring the immediate establishment of a Transitory Account as mandated by the contract. Stricter procurement oversight mechanisms and greater adherence to the PPCA and Public Financial Management Act were also emphasized to prevent future violations.
In January 2025, Senator Amara Konneh, chairing the Senate Public Accounts Committee (PAC), followed up on these recommendations by sending letters to the General Auditing Commission (GAC), the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), and the National Port Authority (NPA). In his letter to Auditor General Patrick Garswa Jackson, Senator Konneh reiterated the urgency of the audit recommended by the Committee. He wrote, “This audit is critical, given revelations during the hearings that the late Commissioner-General instructed MedTech to directly manage Liberia’s 20% revenue share from the DI contract. This action bypassed established public financial management frameworks, exposing them to significant governance and accountability lapses.”
A similar letter addressed to LRA Commissioner-General James Dorbor Jallah sought updates on the renegotiation of the DI contract and the status of the Transitory Account. Senator Konneh demanded detailed financial reports and bank statements to track the government’s share of revenue. “We kindly request your response, including supporting documents and bank statements, by Thursday, January 23, 2025,” the letter stated.
Despite these follow-ups, there has been no substantive response from the Executive Branch or the implicated parties. The GAC has yet to confirm whether the recommended audit has commenced. Similarly, the LRA has not provided updates on the renegotiation of the contract or the establishment of the Transitory Account. This silence is particularly troubling given the gravity of the Committee’s findings. For example, the report revealed ownership disputes involving MedTech Scientific Liberia Ltd., the local entity serving as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for the DI contract. Another company, MTS Inspection Services, was incorporated in 2022 to execute the same contract, violating the agreement’s terms.
Financial transparency remains elusive. The Committee’s report noted that there was no evidence confirming the government’s receipt of its 20 percent revenue share. MedTech’s management of these funds outside the Transitory Account constituted a breach of the DI contract and the Public Financial Management Act.
The lack of action on the Senate’s recommendations has far-reaching implications. It undermines Liberia’s credibility in contract enforcement and governance, potentially deterring future investors. The Committee’s report warned that “the magnitude of these violations, if left unchecked, will injure Liberia’s reputation as a destination for doing business.” The inaction also perpetuates a culture of impunity. Despite uncovering systemic failures in procurement oversight and financial management, those responsible have faced no consequences.
Liberia’s economy heavily relies on customs revenue, and the mismanagement of funds from the DI contract represents a substantial loss to the national budget. Senator Konneh noted this in his letter to the LRA, stating, “We want to understand the fiscal contributions of the existing DI contract to the Government of Liberia in FY2024 and how the LRA spent it in conformity with the investments outlined in the said contract.”
Civil society organizations and governance watchdogs have called for renewed attention to the Senate’s recommendations. The Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) issued a statement urging the government to prioritize transparency and accountability in this matter.
Senator Konneh has vowed to continue his efforts to ensure that the recommendations are implemented. He emphasized the importance of legislative oversight. “We cannot allow such blatant violations of our laws to go unchecked. The Senate has done its part by investigating and recommending corrective measures; it is now up to the Executive to act,” he said.
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