Nimba County District #5 Representative Kortor S. Kwagrue has accused Agriculture Minister Alexander Nuetah of alleged massive corruption in the procurement of cattle for Liberia, prompting the House of Representatives to initiate an investigation into the Ministry’s handling of public funds allocated to agricultural cooperatives.
Rep. Kwagrue, in a communication to the Plenary of the House of Representatives, requested that Minister Nuetah be invited to provide a comprehensive list of all cooperatives receiving public funds through the Ministry of Agriculture.
The communication was referred to a specialized committee chaired by Rep. Ivar K. Jones of Margibi County District #2, with Rep. Ellen Attoh Wreh of Margibi County District #3 serving as co-chair. The committee is expected to investigate the matter and report its findings to Plenary for further action.
The inquiry comes amid concerns surrounding the Ministry of Agriculture’s cattle-importation initiative, which was introduced as part of efforts to revitalize Liberia’s livestock sector, strengthen food security, and reduce the country’s dependence on imported meat.
The Ministry previously announced the importation of 200 Muturu cattle from Guinea and Mali under President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s “Liberians Feed Yourselves” agenda.
The initiative was intended to support livestock farmers in Grand Kru County, while some cattle were earmarked for a national breeding program at the Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI), in partnership with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The program was also expected to support artificial insemination technology and improve local cattle production.
However, reports that several of the animals died while being transported to their intended destinations have raised questions about the implementation of the initiative and the management of the cattle supply contract.
The deaths have added to public scrutiny of the project, particularly concerning the handling of the animals, the contractor’s obligations, and the use of public resources.
Minister Nuetah has previously responded to questions about the cattle contract, denying that he had a personal relationship with the supplier.
During his response, the minister maintained that the procurement process was handled by the government’s established procurement system before the contract was submitted to him for signature.
“I don’t get involved with processes,” Nuetah said, explaining that the Ministry’s procurement team manages the process and that he signs contracts after the required approvals.
He further stated that suppliers apply through the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC) system, where bids are evaluated before contracts are presented for approval.
“As I sit here, all the vendors that are supplying this Ministry, I have no personal relationship with any of them,” the minister said.
Nuetah also acknowledged that 24 cattle died, but stated that the contractor agreed to replace the animals.
According to the minister, the contractor subsequently delivered two batches of 40 cattle each to Grand Kru County. He said county authorities received the animals and encouraged journalists to verify the deliveries with the county superintendent.
The minister maintained that the procurement records and contract could be examined to establish the details of the arrangements
The House committee’s investigation is expected to examine the concerns raised by Rep. Kwagrue, including the distribution of public funds to agricultural cooperatives and the Ministry’s management of the cattle procurement initiative.
The committee’s findings could help establish whether procurement procedures were followed, whether the contractor fulfilled the terms of the agreement, and whether public resources were properly accounted for.
While Kwagrue has raised allegations of corruption, the allegations have not been established as proven findings. The minister has denied having personal ties to the supplier and has defended the government’s procurement process.
The committee is expected to report to Plenary for further action, as questions remain about the cattle contract, the reported deaths of animals, and the accountability mechanisms governing public spending in Liberia’s agricultural sector.
