Corruption Shocker: LAC Offers Monthly Pay-offs to Govt Officials In Grand Bassa
02/24/08 - FPA Staff Report

 

Monrovia -  

W

hat may be corruption at the highest level seems to have shown its face in Grand Bassa County.

 

The leadership of the entire county seems to be on the payroll of the Liberia Agriculture Company (LAC), raising more questions over the recent murder of former Plantations Manager, the late Bruno Michiels and the ruthless nature in which residents of Districts #3 and 4 were rounded up could not be over emphasized.

 

George Mensah, Former General Manager, Liberian Agriculture Company.

Though some of those who accompanied the late Plantations Manager to the Bush are yet to be arrested to help with the investigation, a confidential memo  FrontPageAfrica came across at the weekend, indicates that the County Superintendent, County attorney, Circuit Judge, Chief of Police, Labour Commissioner, Chief of Immigration and CID Chief are all on the payroll of the Liberia Agriculture Company (LAC).

 

In a memo signed by former General Manager, George Quarteng-Mensah, under the subject “Revised/Adjusted Government Relations”, it says, “Please approve the revised and adjusted arrangement made in our Governmental Relations for Buchanan, Grand Bassa County. This agreement is important because it serves very good public relations for and promotes a positive image of the Company.”

 

Under the arrangement, the Company provides the following on a monthly basis:

 

 

County Superintendent 2 bags of rice and US$500 every month
County Attorney 1 bag of rice and US$150 every month
Circuit Judge 2 bags of rice and US$300 every month
Chief of Police 1 bag of rice and US$100 every month
Labor Commissioner 2 bags of rice and US$50 every month
Chief of Immigration 1 bag of rice and LD$2,000 every month
CID Chief 1 bag of rice and LD$2,000 every month

 

Supporting Documents:

LAC FILES

Critics of the administration has urged the administration of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf to take drastic action against those involved as corruption can no longer be tolerated in any case and the Sirleaf administration must act to save the image of her government, which continues to be bombarded with reports of corruption in various parts of the country. Observers say those involved in the LAC corruption case should be dismissed as they are not acting in the interest of the people they claim to be serving.

 

It can be recalled that Mensah declared during Bruno’s funeral that the Liberian government did not provide security for the company, leading to the murder of the expatriate. 

Mensah was replaced shortly after his allegations by Pascal Desmedt. Desmedt had previously served as LAC’s former comptroller. He was appointed as general manager by the board of the company last November and like Bruno, is also  a Belgium national and the 11th General Manager of LAC since the company was established in 1959

 

More Developments will follow shortly ...
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