MONROVIA – Checkpoint money at the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) has become one of the contentious issues, and, staffers are agitated on grounds that the money is not properly managed and used for the sole benefit of the institution but some individuals in senior management positions.
Some aggrieved staff have accused Mr. Victor Kpaisseh of collecting most of the money and diverting to to his personal projects in Nimba Electoral District #4 where it is alleged he wants to contest for the seat of Representative at the Legislature in 2029.
Kpaisseh is the Deputy Managing Director for Administration and Finance at FDA.
The deputy director’s accusers alleged that he possesses a personal Lonestar MTN Mobile Money number (undisclosed) to which his share of the money is deposited from every collection made at checkpoints across the country while Atty. Getrude Korvah Nyaley, Deputy Director for Commercial and Technical Services too possesses hers and receives her share as Victor does.
When contacted, Kpaisseh told The Liberian Investigator that his accusers are liars and challenged them to provide evidence to support their claims. According to him, every money collected from the checkpoints is deposited on mobile money number (Lonestar MTN) each, and said sim cards are used to transfer the money to a special portal opened with and control by the headquarters of Lonestarcell MTN in Comgo Town, Monrovia.
“No individual has access to that money. No one can withdraw from that portal except approved and a check is prepared by Lonestar office and we take the check to LBDI (bank) and cash-out,” he said, adding that there must always be two signatures which include his and that of the Managing Director Rudolph Merab.
According to Victor Kpaisseh, the man also tasked with the responsibility of signing all checks and and approves alongside the MD all financial transactions at FDA, the portal system was created by former FDA Managing Director, Harrison Karnway.
“Harrison Karnway created this portal and his successor C. Mike Doyen used it too. We are only improving upon it by making sure there is better output to impact the workings of the entity. Workers here wanted to honor me the last time for the huge amount of money we are generating from the checkpoints now compared to past administrations but I told them there was no need to do so because I was appointed to make a good difference,” he boasted.
Contrary to Kpaisseh’s claims, FDA’s national supervisor for checkpoints across the country said the money is collected is deposited in FDA account and reports from the deposits are made to him before he onwards reports to central management.
Anthony Menlor who is said to be a brother-in-law of Kpaisseh and is alleged to have been employed at government’s forestry management entity by him (Kpaisseh) noted that he does not work for Victor but FDA.
“I have no such relation with Victor. He is not my brother-in-law and I am not his brother-in-law. Victor did not marry my sister. I did not marry his sister. How then are we in-laws?,” Menlor asked rhetorically.
Like Menlor, Kpaisseh too has distance himself from any close realation with the supervisor, noting, “he is working for FDA, not me.”
A source who works at FDA and claims to be close to Menlor and Kpaisseh said the both are not being honest about the relationship between the.
“Victor brought Anthony Menlor to FDA upon receiving his appointment to serve as deputy managing director for administration and finance. Menlor is being positioned strategically to accomplish a lot for Victor and Getrude. Victor wants to contest in his electoral district in Nimba in 2029 and he is doing everything to entice people there with quick impact projects. This is why Menlor did not go through the Civil Service Agency employment procedures that we went through. He is receiving US$1,150 monthly, even though his qualification is questionable,” the source who begged for anonymity disclosed.
When contacted about his earnings and employment status, Menlor said “I don’t want to talk about money business. Go to the comptroller and you will know.”
Quizzed further to confirm or not as to whether the allegation of his qualification being questionable and that he is receiving more money in salary than he should, the FDA checkpoint money collector said “Anything about the place, it is the FDA Managing Director and Deputy Managing Director who supposed to speak. I don’t have anything to say.”
A source from within FDA claims that Menlor Menlor is only a high school graduate with no high profile job experience. “This is why Victor does not want him face the rigorous employment procedures of CSA. Menlor is receiving his monthly salary through a supplementary payroll that is check-based,” the source alleged.
The Liberian Investigator’s informer said it is “troubling and annoying” that well educated staffer who have genuinely earned their bachelor and master’s degrees are barely receiving US$300 at FDA but a man like Menlor is paid over US$1,000 that is about four times or even more than the pay of some learned people.
“This is how dirty politics has become in our country. People do not care about this country but themselves. Why change another administration if you can even be worse than those you accused of certain wrongdoings yesterday? It is appalling,” the source lamented.
About how much is collected and from whom, Victor Kpaisseh said money is collected from wood sellers, mainly those who do business in commercial planks.
“They pay 60 US cents per plank (2 by 10) or its equivalent in Liberian Dollars (a little over L$100),” he said, although declined to mention how much is raised every week or month.
Efforts, including calls and text messages did not claim Madam Getrude Nyaley’s attention to respond.
Disenchantment
A leak from the chatroom of FDA’s management and staff contains expressions of anger, frustration and disappointment in the leadetship of MD Merab and his deputies.
“There are lots of lapses, contradictions, and missteps that contravene the Act that created civil service, including bad employment practices, and an alarming salary disparity that is being practiced by some newly appointed officials at the Forestry Development Authority, especially in the circle of Deputy Managing Directors,” an excerpt of the leak contains.
Although it is not clear who posted the comment in the chatroom, but the continues: “I want to make myself clear here that no one push this rescue agenda more than some of us did. In fact, I was strategically position and opportune to have been one of those receiving reports from then supervisors, now appointees, particularly at FDA.”
The aggrieved message owner claimed that the current management at FDA has bridged CSA Act for employment in all forms as they have employed their confidantes without going through proper channels, and those employed lack requisite qualifications.
The leak further disclosed that the practice of nepotism at the highest level, introducing very high level of tribalism in the system, visible incompetence and inability on the part of some in management to represent the institution both nationally and internally but due to the daily sustenance allowance (DSA) or huge per-diem, they are on flights traveling are on the rise at FDA.
Recently, FDA management was accused of misappropriating US$1.4 million of Legality Verification Department (LVD) money. LVD is a project within FDA that is tasked with the responsibility of providing supervision over the forest sector of the country. The Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) confirmed delivery of said amount of money to FDA for the exclusive use of LVD but management said the use of the money was at its discretion, considering the growing challenges confronting the agency.
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