In an investigative publication titled “Corruption as a Service (CaaS)”, forensic accountability Analyst Fanta Kamara alleges that members of an interministerial concessions committee solicited US$4 million in bribes from competing bidders.
According to the report, five shortlisted companies refused to comply, while Zoomlion allegedly agreed to an initial US$2 million payment following meetings in Accra, Ghana.
The article claims that the committee was chaired by officials linked to the National Investment Commission (NIC), including Melvin Sheriff, representing NIC Chairman Jeff Blibo, alongside other senior municipal figures.
Serious Allegations
The publication further alleges that committee members traveled to Accra to finalize discussions with Zoomlion’s Chief Executive Officer, Joseph Siaw Agyepong. It cites prior public records, including a 2013 World Bank debarment of Zoomlion for bribery linked to a sanitation project in Liberia.
The World Bank’s Integrity Vice Presidency (INT) in September 2013 sanctioned the company after it admitted to bribing Liberian officials under the Emergency Monrovia Urban Sanitation Project (EMUS). That debarment was later lifted after a negotiated settlement.
Additionally, the report references Ghanaian government actions in 2025 that terminated portions of Zoomlion’s contracts following audit findings.
As of press time, the Government of Liberia has not publicly responded to the specific bribery allegations contained in the article. Efforts to obtain comment from the National Investment Commission were ongoing.
Financing Concerns Raised
Beyond the bribery claims, the investigative report questions the financial structure of the proposed agreement. It alleges that Zoomlion intends to secure US$200 million in financing through AfreximBank at approximately 9 percent interest, with repayment obligations ultimately borne by the Liberian government over two decades.
The article argues that this arrangement could significantly increase the long-term cost of the contract, potentially exceeding the original US$200 million value. However, official documentation confirming the final financing terms has not yet been made public.
The report also claims that a Liberian consortium had proposed a self-financing model that would not have transferred debt to the state, but withdrew from the bidding process citing concerns over procurement transparency.
Senator Edwin Snowe has publicly questioned the wisdom of entering into a long-term contract with a company previously sanctioned by international bodies. Civil society actors are now calling for the full publication of procurement records, including bid evaluations, scoring sheets, and documentation of all committee deliberations.
Under Liberia’s Public Procurement and Concessions Act (PPCC), any contract tainted by bribery can be declared null and void.
Legal analysts say that if proven, allegations of bribery in the award process could trigger investigations by domestic anti-corruption institutions and international oversight bodies, particularly if multilateral financing institutions are involved.
A Broader Debate
The controversy has reignited debate over transparency, foreign concessions, and debt exposure in Liberia’s public contracting sector. Critics argue that major infrastructure and sanitation contracts must prioritize value for money, local participation, and strict adherence to procurement laws.
Supporters of the proposed concession, however, argue that Liberia urgently needs structured waste management solutions in Monrovia and surrounding areas, and that experienced international operators can help modernize the sector.
For now, the alleged award letter has not been publicly released, and government officials have yet to confirm whether the contract has been formally executed.
As scrutiny intensifies, the spotlight remains firmly on the Executive Mansion and the agencies responsible for overseeing one of the largest sanitation concessions in recent years.
