A Verity News investigation has uncovered mounting concerns among employees of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) regarding what they describe as troubling irregularities in the Ministry’s recent procurement of a staff bus and several motorbikes intended for field operations.
According to multiple employees, dissatisfaction has been growing for months over inconsistencies between what was announced by the Ministry’s leadership and what has actually been delivered.
During a general staff meeting held on June 17, 2025, the Minister informed employees that the Ministry had procured a Toyota Coaster 30-seater staff bus valued at US$65,000, assuring workers the vehicle would arrive in Liberia by August 2025. However, as of this publication, no such bus has been delivered.
Instead, employees say they have only been shown photographs of a Chinese-made BLK bus, a vehicle whose market value is widely estimated between US$18,000 and US$30,000—less than half of the cost initially communicated to staff.
“We were told to expect a Toyota Coaster. What we’re seeing now is a completely different bus and at a fraction of the price,” an employee familiar with the matter told Verity News on condition of anonymity. “It raises serious questions about the procurement process.”
Concerns also surround the procurement of motorbikes for county and regional inspectors.
Staffs say they were promised strong, durable motorbikes valued at US$1,700 per unit. Instead, the Ministry delivered standard TVS bikes, commonly sold for US$850 or less in Liberia.
“This is not what was promised,” another frustrated staff member said. “Inspectors need reliable bikes for tough terrain, not the cheapest bikes on the market.”
In response to these discrepancies, employees convened several leadership and general staff meetings, ultimately adopting a series of resolutions aimed at demanding accountability and transparency:
Reject the Chinese BLK bus being presented for delivery.
Request the return of the delivered TVS bikes and insist on procurement of bikes that meet the specifications originally announced.
Call on the General Services Agency (GSA) to immediately investigate the procurement process to ensure compliance and value for public money.
Urge the Ministry to reconsider its relationship with the supplier, citing a lack of confidence in the vendor’s dealings.
Employees argue that their actions are not acts of defiance but efforts to protect public trust and uphold institutional standards.
“This is about integrity,” a senior staff member emphasized. “We cannot allow discrepancies of this magnitude to go unaddressed. Public resources must be used responsibly.”
Staffs are calling on the Ministry’s leadership to take swift corrective action, restore confidence in its procurement practices, and prioritize the welfare of employees who rely on these essential logistics to carry out their duties.
In response to the allegations, Deputy Commerce and Industry Minister Tarnue Jake said he is equally waiting for the supply of the bus at which time he will be able to determine whether it is what was required consistent with specifications.
“Well, I am equally waiting for the supply of the bus at which time I will be able to determine whether it is what was required consistent with specifications. As it stands, the ministry has not been supplied yet. We were only informed that there were damages to the bus while en route to Liberia. The supplier informed us that their insurance company is handling the damages,” Deputy Minister Jake noted.
Continuing, he stated: “That’s all I know for now. How the employees got such detailed information about the bus is yet to be understood by management. Maybe the person providing the information has a special relationship with the supplier to know what type of bus he has planned to supply the ministry.”
