The House of Representatives has launched an official investigation into Agriculture Minister Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah over the disbursement of US$4 million to 500 farmers under the Public Sector Investment Project (PSIP), following concerns over regional exclusion and lack of transparency.
During its recent sitting, the House Plenary voted to mandate its Joint Committees on Agriculture, Investment & Concession, and Internal Affairs to probe the Minister’s handling of the funds, which were reportedly distributed to farmers across eight counties.
The decision came in response to a formal communication from Maryland County District #3 Representative, Hon. Austin Taylor, who raised concerns that no counties from the South-Eastern region, including Maryland, were included among the beneficiaries.
While commending the government’s ongoing support to agriculture and rural development, Hon. Taylor questioned the fairness and inclusiveness of the selection process.
“It is important to note that counties within the South-Eastern region, including Maryland County, were not listed among the beneficiaries of this program,” Hon. Taylor stated. “The exclusion of these counties raises questions about the selection criteria and the principle of equitable regional inclusion in national development programs.”
In his request to the Plenary, Rep. Taylor urged the House to summon Minister Nuetah to:
1. Provide a comprehensive breakdown of beneficiaries by county;
2. Explain the criteria used in selecting both farmers and counties; and
3. Clarify the rationale behind the exclusion of South-Eastern counties from the PSIP initiative.
He emphasized that equitable distribution of public resources is vital to fostering national unity and ensuring balanced development across all regions.
Following deliberations, the Plenary agreed to the call for a full investigation. The Joint Committees have been tasked with thoroughly reviewing the matter and are expected to present their findings and recommendations within the statutory timeframe.
The PSIP, a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture, aims to strengthen food security and support smallholder farmers across Liberia. However, the latest controversy has raised fresh questions about transparency, fairness, and regional representation in the implementation of national development programs.
