A donation of 150 motorbikes by Mines and Energy Minister R. Matenokay Tingban to chiefs and elders in Nimba County has sparked calls from two leading civil society organizations for an investigation into the source of the funds used to purchase the bikes.
The Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) and the Citizens Action Movement of Liberia (CAM-L) argued that the reported donation, valued at between US$105,000 and US$120,000, raises questions that should be addressed by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) and the Office of the Ombudsman.
CENTAL Executive Director Anderson D. Miamen said the matter deserves an independent inquiry if reports about the donation are accurate.
“If the information published Journalist Nyantee Genero Togba of OK FM based on an earlier Facebook post by Matthew Konah, is true, then the source of the funding should be investigated,” Miamen said.
According to him, even at an estimated US$700 per motorbike, the donation would be worth about US$105,000. At US$800 per bike, the total would reach approximately US$120,000.
CENTRAL Executive Director questioned how the minister was able to finance such a donation and called for greater transparency.
‘Was the money from his salary, from friends, or from some other source?” Miamen asked.
He also urged anti-graft investigators to examine whether Tingban had a similar record of charitable giving before becoming minister and to review the assets, income, and liabilities he declared upon taking office.
“The Office of the Ombudsman, working with the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission, should investigate this matter. The public has a right to know where the money came from because the Code of Conduct and other laws set standards for the conduct of public officials,” Miamen added.
CAM-L has also called for an immediate and independent investigation, arguing that the size of the donation warrants public scrutiny.
The group said the issue comes at a time when many Liberians continue to struggle with poor roads, inadequate healthcare, and other basic public services.
“The use of public office must never serve as a shield for unexplained wealth or political patronage,” CAM-L said in a statement.
It further stated: “The Liberian people have a right to know how public officials acquire and spend resources, particularly when those expenditures amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars.”
CAM-L is calling on Minister Tingban to publicly disclose the source of the funds used to purchase the motorbikes and clarify whether they came from his salary, private business interests, or another legitimate source.
The organization also wants the minister to disclose his record of charitable donations before joining government and make public the assets, income, and liabilities he declared to the LACC upon assuming office.
In addition, CAM-L urged the LACC and the Office of the Ombudsman to conduct a joint, independent, and time-bound investigation into the matter.
The group said Liberia’s Code of Conduct for Public Officials and other governance laws require public officials to be transparent and accountable.
“No public official is above the law or above accountability,” CAM-L said.
The organization said it will continue to monitor the matter and support all lawful efforts aimed at promoting transparency, integrity, and accountability in public service.
Minister Tingban had not publicly responded to the allegations at the time of publication.
