A Verity News investigation has uncovered new details surrounding the Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s controversial plan to spend approximately US$500,000 within two months at the Monrovia Industrial Park (MIP), a move critics say may violate procurement and governance procedures.
According to documents obtained by this paper, the Inter-Agency Advisory Board of the MIP convened its “second called meeting” on October 22, 2025, at the Ministry’s conference room.
A resolution approved at that meeting authorized US$429,009 in expenditures for the final quarter of the fiscal year.
The spending classified under construction, security services, and publicity activities, was described as “urgent rehabilitation works.”
However, multiple insiders allege that not all board members were notified or participated in the vote, raising doubts about the resolution’s legitimacy.
Sources close to the process told Verity News that some members only learned of the decision after it had been signed, suggesting a possible breach of Section 5.2 of the MIP’s Administrative Regulation, which requires at least seven members to form a quorum.
Although the resolution claims seven members were present, at least two ministries reportedly have no record of participation, a discrepancy that could invalidate the decision under Liberian administrative law if confirmed.
Adding to the controversy, there is no evidence of Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC) approval-a mandatory step for major government spending under the PPCC Act.
A senior procurement officer at the Ministry, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that “no formal submission to the PPCC” had been made as of Tuesday. If true, the omission could constitute a serious violation of procurement regulations.
Compounding the matter, the Minister of Finance’s signature is reportedly missing from the resolution.
Standard fiscal procedures require all expenditures of this scale to be endorsed by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) to ensure lawful disbursement. Without that authorization, the spending could be deemed unauthorized, potentially inviting scrutiny from the General Auditing Commission (GAC) or the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC).
Transparency advocates have also raised concerns about the compressed two-month timeline for executing nearly half a million dollars’ worth of projects.
“When you rush spending like this, you open the door to inflated contracts and poor oversight, said a governance analyst familiar with public finance practices. “It’s not just about speed; it’s about accountability.”
The Ministry’s resolution cites “urgent rehabilitation and security needs” at the industrial park, which has faced years of encroachment and deterioration. It also outlines plans for a master plan, feasibility studies, and the development of a public-private partnership (PPP) model for future management.
However, opposition lawmakers and civil society groups are calling for all actions at the MIP to be suspended pending PPCC clearance. Some have urged the House Committee on Commerce to summon Minister Amin Modad for questioning.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has yet to issue an official statement addressing the alleged procedural breaches.
Until then, doubts remain over whether the MIP’s latest rehabilitation effort will mark genuine progress or simply another chapter in Liberia’s long struggle with transparency and accountability in public spending.
