CAPITOL Hill, Monrovia – The Liberian Senate faces increasing criticism over funds used for their recent retreat held in Buchanan. Reports indicate that the Senate spent a hefty sum of for the two-day event. Exiled Liberian activist Martin Kollie has claimed that the Senate is not disclosing the actual amount used.
In response to these allegations, several Senators have spoken up to provide clarity. Senator Amara Konneh of Gbarpolu County, who chairs the Senate Public Account Committee, announced on his Facebook page that only US$50,000 was spent on the retreat.
Senator Konneh detailed that the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning issued two checks to the Liberian Senate operations Account at the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) on June 5, 2024, totaling US$565,000. The first check, for US$290,000, was intended for four “Constituency visits” throughout the year. The second check, for US$275,000, was for “Committee Engagement” and the “Senate Retreat” combined. All funds were approved budgeted expenditures in the FY2024 budget signed into law by the President.
However, in several Facebook exchanges with Martin Kollie, Konneh announced that after careful review, he realized the Senate was given an excess for domestic daily subsistence allowance (DDSA) and was refunding it to the Government of Liberia (GOL) revenue account. “I am ahead of you on the reimbursement. I suggested it to colleagues and have gone ahead quietly to do so. My assistant is on his way to the CBL [Central Bank of Liberia] to refund LRD 318,000 out of the LRD 328,000 they gave us for DDSA into the GOL Revenue Account. I have many $1,704 I have earned over the years. Nevertheless, no law says it’s $54. If there is one, I suggest you post the specific section. Travel rates are not legislated.”
Kollie responded: “Senator Amara Konneh, it’s good that you have finally agreed to REFUND after we uploaded the law that has been VIOLATED. We do this not to chase after anyone but to ensure that the people’s interests are PROTECTED. We call on Senator Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, Senator Abe Darius Dillon, and all other Senators to also REFUND the people’s money. We won’t rest on this. Senator Nyonblee must also produce a comprehensive financial report of ALL transactions for the hundreds of thousands lavished in recent times.”
Senator Moye’s account
Addressing a news conference at the Capitol Building in Monrovia on Wednesday, June 19, Senator Prince Moye explained the delay in the Senate’s official response to the public allegations was due to gathering reports from various committees set up to head the retreat. He recalled that on May 2, the Secretary of the Senate, Nanborlor Singbeh, requested the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning to make available US$290,000 from its “constituency visit” line item in its budget. The ministry did not release the funds, stating that the National Budget for 2024 was not yet concluded.
Senator Moye explained that the Senate later finalized its budget, initially at US$10,227,571 as a draft. The Senate decided to remove the operations line in its budget and replace it with Legislative Committee Hearings amounting to US$2,020,000. Following the passage of the national budget, the Senate budget was restored to include US$45,000 each for vehicles for Senators, in keeping with Senate policy. The current Senate budget stands at US$16,527,371, compared to US$21,880,929 as an outturn for the last fiscal year 2023. Moye emphasized that the Senate strives for transparency and integrity, aligning with the Unity Party government’s values.
Over US$2M for committee hearings
The Senate replaced the operations line in its budget with committee hearings, allocating US$2,020,000. Senators requested US$275,000 from this budget for holding committee hearings after submitting a detailed budget to the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning on May 30 this year. Committee hearings are conducted to confirm presidential nominees, seek relevant information from public officials, and address national concerns in Liberia.
The retreat tale
Senator Moye admitted that no detailed budget was finalized by the Senate when both requests were made. He disclosed that the leadership of the Senate decided and proposed a retreat without finalizing plans. On June 3, the Senate requested the Finance Ministry to disburse US$275,000 from its “committee hearings” line item. The Senate leadership later decided to recast the budget to accommodate the retreat and other operations. From the recast budget, US$3000 was given to each Senator for committee hearings, amounting to US$90,000 in total. An additional US$2000 was provided to Senators heading various committees to enhance their work during the three-day committee activities in Bassa, totaling US$150,000 distributed during the retreat.
Senator Moye disclosed that the retreat expenses included handling and transporting cash to pay the retreat committee and other service providers, DSA for participants, totaling US$8000. US$1000 was given to the Secretary of the Senate to enhance his work at the retreat. Additional expenses included US$3000 for the national press, US$4,379 for stationery and supplies, and US$16,379 for administrative expenses.
Administrative cost at Capitol Building
From the US$275,000 received from the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, additional expenditures included financing the burglary investigation at the offices of three members. Light bulbs were purchased to improve lighting at the Senate wing, US$10,000 was used to repair the generator, and an unspecified amount was spent on the ongoing IT system and wifi. Funds were also used to prepare bid documents for procuring vehicles for Senators. Senator Moye emphasized that these housekeeping expenses were disclosed for transparency and accountability.
Senator Moye reported that out of the US$50,000 received for the retreat, only US$42,840 was used. Detailed expenses included US$15,970 for accommodation, US$1820 for car rental and gasoline, US$3000 for hall rental, US$950 for cleaning materials, US$2650 for facilitators, US$1500 for local media operations, US$2500 for Senators and support staff, US$4000 for catering, US$3000 for DSA for Senators and support staff, US$4000 for the Secretariat, US$500 for police operations, and US$2950 for administrative staff DSA. The committee has a balance of US$4160 to address other constraints.
The total amount spent by the Senate from the US$275,000 was US$238,879, with US$36,121 remaining in the Liberian Senate’s transitory account. Senator Moye emphasized that the Senate did not misuse funds and challenged reports that US$700,000 was spent on the retreat.
Members of the National Legislature have faced criticism for allegedly using the national budget for personal gain rather than addressing constituents’ needs. Despite challenges in Liberia’s health, education, and other sectors, each member of the Senate and the House of Representatives is allocated US$45,000 for new vehicles this budget year. Calls for reducing this amount have been ignored by lawmakers.
