A $22.4 million contract surrounded by irregularities and awarded outside legal procedures is at risk of being swept under the carpet, as the Liberian Senate has agreed to accept an apology from Minister of Public Works Roland Lafayette Giddings after an investigation.
Opposition Senator Albert Chea, who chairs the Committee on Public Works, has joined Minister Giddings in pleading with the Senate to accept a simple apology for the mishandled contracts.
In a hearing that was not made public, Senator Chea revealed that the investigation confirmed that the contracts were awarded without following proper procedures.
During Tuesday’s session, Senator Chea informed his colleagues that Minister Giddings admitted to awarding contracts totaling $21 million outside the established legal framework.
In response to concerns raised by Senators Nathaniel F. McGill of Margibi County, Gbehzongar M. Findley of Grand Bassa County, Simeon B. Taylor of Grand Cape Mount County, and Abraham Darius Dillon of Montserrado County, the Senate initiated an investigation into the irregularities surrounding the road contracts awarded by the Ministry of Public Works and Rural Development (MPW).
This came just two months after Giddings took office, following intense scrutiny over the irregularities in the contract awards.
The Senate tasked the Committees on Judiciary, Public Works, and Public Accounts and Audits to probe the matter, which affects road projects across Liberia.
Among the controversial contracts were those awarded to CHICO for the Salayea to Voinjama route ($3,999,000), SSF for the Voinjama to Foya segment ($1,719,976.40), and CICO for the Tapita to Zwedru stretch ($3,200,000), among others.
Despite significant concerns about the MPW’s failure to adhere to the Public Financial Management (PFM) and the Public Procurement and Concession Commission (PPCC) Act, the Senate agreed to let the minister off with a public apology.
This decision fuels potential questions about the Senate’s stance on critical national issues, particularly regarding the covert awarding of multimillion-dollar contracts without proper procedures.
Senator Albert Chie defended the minister’s actions, citing the urgent need for road rehabilitation as the rainy season approached. “The minister admitted but stated that it was important to award those contracts due to the pressing needs of the people,” Chie explained.
The minister is expected to however appear before the plenary to answer further questions related to the $21 million contracts during their next session on Thursday.
The Senate’s lenient approach to this matter could raise concerns about accountability and governance in Liberia.
It could be argued that accepting an apology for such significant procedural breaches undermines the rule of law and sets a dangerous precedent for future government dealings.
