But A Boakai Spokesman Rubbishes The Claims
By E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor
More hurdles seem to be heaped in Vice President Joseph Boakai’s path to becoming Liberia’s president. While he wobbles and fumbles with who should be his running mate, the Groove 106FM has unearth what could be considered a furtive and scandalous dry bones still stuck in his dark closet. But a spokesman has refuted the allegations
Our Monrovia Correspondent is reporting that Mr. Boakai is entangled with a US$2,000,000 scam reportedly entrusted to him to expedite the “Green Revolution” program launched by the late Samuel Doe. Boakai’s campaign is yet to respond to this alleged financial impropriety levied against him.
A fellow Lofaian is leading the accountability onslaught against Veep Boakai. Nathaniel Blamah, Chairman of the Liberia National Union (LINU), is demanding that vice president address himself to the alleged US$2m scam and provide some clarity. He said Boakai is yet to provide answers for the money entrusted to him that was never used for the intended purpose.
Mr. Blamah told Groove 106FM Thursday, July 6th, at his party’s headquarters in Monrovia, that Boakai must come clean, calling on the Vice President of Liberia to provide answers to these allegations or it could reduce chances for the Liberian presidency.
Recently, the Standard Bearer of the Change Democratic Action, founder of the ADA LAP, Ambassador Wendell McIntosh, accused the vice president of receiving US$100,000 bribes on behalf of the lawmakers, an amount he reportedly dished out to lawmakers. The Unity Party has denied the claims.
But in the wake of UP’s rubbishing of the allegation against Boakai, LINU’s Chairman, Blamah, is alleging another alleged scam. According to him, Vice President Boakai was asked to resign as Managing Director of the Liberia Petroleum Refinery Company during the Interim Government of National Unity (IGNU) of Dr. Amos Claudius Sawyer.
Blamah said he wonders why Boakai would be involved in such scams when his supporters continue to portray him as “blameless”.
In the same breath of accusing Boakai of not accounting for some US$2m, Blamah wants Dr. Sawyer to explain the reason that led to the relieving for Vice president from his managerial post. Observers say it is unlikely that Dr. Sawyer will speak on the issue.
“I think the best option is for the Vice President to explain to the Liberian people himself because those that are putting up defense for him were not on the scene. These are allegations that need clarification,” he said.
But when the head of the National Movement for Boakai, Mr. Robert Kpadeh was contacted via mobile on the allegation, he termed the information as a piece that is intended to mix historical facts with myths.
He said that Mr. Blamah is seeking political relevance at the expanse of the vice president, whom he said has built his hard earned character.
He told Groove 106FM that Boakai was dismissed by Doe for political reason. He claimed that Boakai had refused to join the National Democratic Party of Liberia and some higher-ups ensured that he was dismissed by the regime.
The Late Liberian President Samuel K. Doe launched an investigation in the scandal that revealed the names of several individuals including now Vice President Joseph Boakai and his Chief Accountant at the time, Mr. Foday Massaquoi. The investigation also tied some top board members who were kinsmen of the late Liberian leader.
Mr. Foday Massaquoi was dismissed by President Doe and replaced by another employee in the account section, only identified as Mr. Allison.
Vice President Baokai and Mr. Massaquoi went into hidden for weeks before they were discovered and brought to the late President Doe
According to information, President Doe developed a slow partner posture with the now Vice President Boakai when Mr. Foday Massaquoi admitted to be responsible and was taking the blame for the financial improprieties.
Foday said he would rather be punished for loss the management of now Vice President Joseph Boakai incurred, and also problems at the Liberia Produce Marketing Corporation (LPMC).
Since the 1982/3 missing US$2M incident at the LPMC, Vice President Boakai continues to keep Foday Massaquoi around him, as special technician and chief administrator at every institutions the Vice President had gone to work dating far back in the IGNU regime, when he served as Manager Director at the LPRC in the 1990s.
Mr. Foday Massaquoi, as special operative of Vice President Boakai, also worked as special assistant and chief administrator for Vice President Baokai little known cocoa buying company which was located at Cara Town near the hosting RICO Distillery on Bushrod Island in Monrovia, few meters away from LPRC Compound.
Upon winning the election in 2005 as Vice President, Mr. Boakai had in his Vice president’s office Mr. Foday Massaquoi, his chief accountant at LPMC in the 1980s. Mr. Massaquoi is currently assigned in the offices of Vice President Boakai’s wife, Kartumo Boakai at the Group 77 in charge of special operations and projects.
Boakai and Massaquoi’s friendship span over nearly 35 years beginning at the time the late President Doe’s government when both men were linked a missing US2m at the LPRC.
