CAPITOL HILL – The Liberian Senate has directed its Joint Committee on Autonomous Commissions and Agencies, along with the Judiciary, Human Rights, Claims, and Petitions Committee, to investigate whether heads of public institutions, particularly in the Executive Branch, are complying with the government’s $45,000 vehicle price cap.
The decision was made on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, following recommendations from a report submitted by the Joint Committee on Autonomous Commissions and Agencies and Ways, Means, Finance, and Budget. The report addressed recent comments made by the Director-General of the General Services Agency (GSA), Galakpah Kortima, which were widely publicized in the media.
GSA Director-General Defends His Statement
The committee’s report, chaired by Sinoe County Senator Crayton O. Duncan, quoted Mr. Kortima as saying that his remarks at the MICAT press briefing regarding new vehicle regulations had been misinterpreted.
“It was merely a proposal recommending that certain government officials should have standardized, reliable, and comfortable vehicles,” the report stated.
Kortima clarified that the proposal includes planned seminars and workshops aimed at engaging key stakeholders—including the Legislature, the Ministries of Finance and Development Planning, and State for Presidential Affairs—to discuss a revised vehicle purchase threshold.
He emphasized that the proposed policy would apply only to specific public officials who typically accompany the Presidential Convoy, such as the Ministers of Justice and State for Presidential Affairs, as well as the GSA Director-General. Kortima insisted that he would not introduce any policy that contradicts existing government regulations.
“The committee, therefore, recommends that the Honorable Liberian Senate accept the justification provided by the Director-General and request that he submit any such proposal to the Senate for review,” the report concluded.
Senators Express Outrage Over Alleged Violations
The committee’s findings sparked strong reactions from several senators.
Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon expressed deep frustration, stating:
“I am extremely disappointed. We, as legislators, are not permitted to purchase vehicles exceeding $45,000. Even at that price, it remains an excessive expenditure given the economic hardships our people face.”
Dillon accused Cabinet Ministers, Deputy Ministers, and Managing Directors of state-owned enterprises of purchasing vehicles far beyond the set limit, with some costing between $60,000 and $70,000.
“For us to receive a report suggesting that the GSA Director-General was merely referring to vehicles for foreign guests is disappointing,” he added.
Bomi County Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe, Co-Chair of the Senate Committee on Public Works, challenged the report’s accuracy and vowed to resign if proven wrong about the cost of the vehicle currently used by Public Works Minister Roland Lafayette Giddings.
“The Minister’s vehicle does not cost $45,000,” Snowe insisted. “In fact, road contracts are often structured to include vehicles for officials, further increasing project costs.”
He accused Executive Branch officials of falsely portraying legislators as criminals for using $45,000 vehicles, while they themselves drive cars costing between $50,000 and $100,000.
Snowe also referenced the controversy surrounding former Commerce Minister Amin Modad’s government-issued vehicle, valued at over $96,000, which sparked public outrage.
Call for a Full Investigation
As the debate escalated, Senate Pro-Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence clarified the original mandate given to the committee.
“The committee was tasked with determining whether the GSA Director-General actually made the statement reported in the media,” she explained. “However, we can now expand this mandate to investigate whether public officials are violating the $45,000 vehicle cap, as part of our legislative oversight.”
Despite this clarification, Senator Dillon argued that the committee should have taken the initiative to investigate the cost of vehicles currently being used by Executive officials.
Grand Kru County Senator Albert T. Chie suggested that the GSA boss be required to publicly clarify his remarks to prevent further speculation.
Grand Gedeh County Senator Thomas Yaya Nimely took a stronger stance, arguing that even if Kortima was misquoted, his statements were supported by the actions of Executive officials.
“The entire Executive Branch has violated the law—we are not blind,” Nimely declared. He criticized Kortima’s claim that his statement was merely a suggestion, noting that lawmakers continue to face public backlash for their vehicle purchases while Executive officials drive far more expensive cars.
Following extensive debate, Senator Dillon made a motion to accept the committee’s report while expanding its mandate. The committee is now tasked with investigating whether any public officials—other than the President, Vice President, Chief Justice, Speaker, Senate Pro-Tempore, and Deputy Speaker—are using vehicles exceeding the $45,000 limit, as stipulated by the Budget Law.
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