A Verity News investigation has unearthed internal communications, including a controversial resolution, being advanced by Commerce Minister Magdalene Shelley-Dagoseh, seeking approval of nearly US$500,000 in expenditures for the Monrovia Industrial Park (MIP), barely two months before the end of the fiscal year.
Multiple senior ministry officials, speaking to Verity News on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Minister Shelley-Dagoseh has “urgently” distributed a Board Resolution to members of the MIP Inter-Agency Advisory Board for immediate signature.
“There’s pressure from the top to get this signed quickly,” one official disclosed. “But several Board members are uneasy because this is happening outside the normal budget cycle and without the supporting documents we’d usually expect.”
According to internal communications reviewed by Verity, the proposed half-million-dollar expenditure is intended for “infrastructure and operational costs” within the Park.
However, sources inside and outside the Ministry warn that the process appears rushed and lacking transparency, raising questions about compliance with financial regulations.
Calls for Accountability
Officials familiar with the process say the Ministry initially approached the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC) for clearance but was referred to the MIP Board for authorization, in line with governing regulations.
“The PPCC made it clear that this decision should rest with the Board,” another ministry insider explained. “Now there are reports of behind-the-scenes lobbying to fast-track the process before too many questions are asked.”
The Administrative Regulations of the Monrovia Industrial Park stipulate that the Board’s operating budget must align with the national budget cycle (January–December).
Approving nearly half a million dollars in late October, sources argue, directly contradicts those provisions and raises serious procedural concerns.
A senior official of the MoCI disclosed to this paper that there are documents that need to be reviewed by the Board before any decision is taken, noting that this could expose members of the board to liability if they approve the resolution without reviewing key documents, including:
Past Audit Reports of the Monrovia Industrial Park, to determine how previous funds were used and whether unresolved compliance issues remain.
The General Auditing Commission is reportedly conducting an ongoing audit of the Park.
A Draft Procurement Plan, confirming that all proposed expenditures comply with PPCC procurement and transparency standards.
The Administrative Regulations establishing the Park, which define the Board’s oversight powers and budgetary timelines.
“Signing off on half a million dollars without these documents would expose the Board to serious accountability and audit risks,” cautioned a source close to the Board Secretariat. “We need to see the numbers, the plan, and the legal basis before anyone moves forward
Who Sits on the MIP Board?
The MIP Inter-Agency Advisory Board, created under the Ministry’s regulations, includes senior representatives from key government institutions: the Ministries of Finance, Labor, Public Works, and Justice, along with the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), National Investment Commission (NIC) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and private-sector bodies such as the Liberia Chamber of Commerce and Liberia Business Association.
The Board is tasked with resolving legal and technical issues within the Industrial Park and ensuring its activities comply with national policy and investor-protection standards.
Unanswered Questions
As of press time, it remains unclear whether any Board members have signed the resolution or whether the Ministry has presented the required supporting documentation.
Repeated attempts by Verity to reach Minister Shelley-Dagoseh for comment were unsuccessful.
Several Board members, according to insiders, are now pushing for an emergency session to review the matter before any action is taken-signaling growing discomfort over what some describe as “a rushed and poorly justified financial decision.”
“Nobody wants to be caught in an audit scandal,” one senior official concluded. “If due process isn’t followed, it won’t just be the Ministry, the entire Board could be held liable.”
