BARNGA, Bong County — Questions surrounding the management of millions of dollars allocated for the construction of the Bong County University Technical College, formerly known as the Bong County Technical College, remain unresolved years after the project became the subject of a major corruption investigation.
On June 5, 2019, the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission and the Ministry of Justice secured an indictment against several former and current government officials and entities over allegations involving the use of approximately $2.68 million in Social and County Development Funds intended for the construction of the University. PROBE NEWSPAPER REPORTS.
The Grand Jury of the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court in Bong County issued the indictment.
Among those indicted were former Bong County lawmakers George S. Mulbah, Tokpah J. Mulbah, and Edward W. Karfiah, along with District 3 Rep. Melvin Cole. Rep. Cole was involved in the financial scandal as an office assistant to former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor, then Senator.
Others named in the indictment included former Bong County Superintendent the late Rennie B. Jackson, former BCU President Dr. John Flomo, former Ministry of Internal Affairs Project Specialist Thomas K. Cisco, former Ministry of Public Works Assistant Chief Architect Kenneth Yao Awadjie, Bong County Project Engineer Marcus Berrian, and Liberia China United Investment Group, represented by its CEO, Lian Zhi.
The defendants were accused of multiple offenses, including violations of the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission Act, theft of property, fraud on the internal revenue of Liberia, criminal conspiracy, and criminal facilitation.
According to the LACC, the alleged offenses were connected to the selection and implementation of the construction project and the handling of funds allocated for the University.
Contract value raised questions
The BCU project had already attracted public scrutiny before the 2019 indictment.
The original construction contract, signed in October 2010, was reportedly valued at about $4 million. A subsequent addendum signed in October 2015 increased the contract to approximately $7 million.
The increase of more than $3 million, coupled with concerns over the progress of construction, prompted additional questions from investigators and members of the public.
The LACC investigation reportedly examined procurement procedures, the award of the contract, and the use of funds associated with the project.
The commission alleged that about $2.68 million was criminally converted or misapplied through transactions connected to the project.
Arrests and prosecution questioned
Despite the indictment, the case did not immediately proceed to trial. The LACC’s 2018-2019 annual report stated that arrest warrants issued in connection with the case had not been served because of a hold placed by the Ministry of Justice on their service.
The prolonged status of the case has subsequently raised questions about Liberia’s ability to prosecute high-profile public corruption cases and recover public funds when government projects become the subject of financial investigations.
The allegations against the defendants have not been established as facts by a final court judgment. Under Liberian law, the accused are entitled to due process and are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Public accountability concerns
The controversy surrounding BCU goes beyond the construction of a University. It has raised broader concerns about the management of county development funds, public procurement, and oversight of projects financed with taxpayers’ money.
For Bong County residents, the University is intended to provide expanded opportunities for technical and vocational education while contributing to the county’s human-resource development.
The continuing questions over the project’s finances have therefore remained an important public accountability issue.
More than six years after the 2019 indictment, questions remain about the final disposition of the criminal case, the status of the alleged misappropriated funds and whether the government has recovered any of the money.
The BCU case consequently remains a significant test of Liberia’s efforts to ensure accountability for public resources and to bring long-running corruption allegations to a judicial conclusion.