Clashes between two Liberian senators, Senator Albert Chie of Grand Kru (CDC) and Senator Amara Konneh of Gbarpolu (UP) have intensified over the issue of borrowing funds from the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) by the previous government if George Weah.
The tension between the two senators came to a head during a Senate session when they discussed the findings of the General Auditing Commission (GAC) reports on the bank balances in December and January.
Senator Konneh expressed his concerns about the previous government’s decision to borrow $83 million from the CBL, of which only $32 million was used to pay civil servants. He questioned what happened to the remaining funds and criticized the lack of transparency regarding its usage.
In response, Senator Chie dismissed the issue, stating, “Let sleeping dogs lie.” He argued that borrowing from the CBL is a common practice among governments and should not be a cause for concern.
This exchange of words between the senators escalated the tension further. Senator Konneh, as the head of the Senate Public Account Committee, uncovered constitutional and PFM Act violations, as well as the existence of stale cheques.
He vowed to thoroughly investigate the matter within the Senate. Senator Chie, on the other hand, retaliated by undermining Senator Konneh’s capabilities and attributing his achievements to Dr. James Kollie, who worked with him at the Ministry of Finance.
Senator Edwin Snowe also expressed his disappointment with the continuous violations committed by the executive branch. He emphasized the need for accountability regarding the excess amount borrowed by the previous government from the CBL in 2023. Senator Snowe specifically questioned the whereabouts of the remaining $51 million from the $83 million borrowed, as only $32 million was utilized to pay civil servants.
The Senate has summoned the Central Bank of Liberia to address these concerns and provide clarification on the $83 million loan. The clashes between Senators Chie and Konneh highlight the ongoing debate on financial transparency and accountability within the Liberian government; courtesy of Nyantee Togba.
