Liberian Minister Concedes Misapplication Of US$180K Wednesday, 26 June 2013 17:03 Michael Roberts Minister Frederick Norkeh MONROVIA: As debate for Liberia’s 2013/2014 National Budget heats up, several officials are reportedly fumbling to defend their budgets as well as expenditures for the last fiscal period 2012/2013. A Liberian Minister of Government has conceded the misapplication of US$180,000. Dr. Fredrick Norkeh, Minister of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (MOPT) appearing before the House of Representatives’ Committee on Ways, Means and Finance that is conducting public hearings on the revenue component of the Draft 2013/2014 National Budget on Tuesday, June 25, 2013 “kicked dust into his own eyes” by admitting to lawmakers that he expended over US$180,000 without legislative approval. The Postal Affairs Minister Tuesday boldly admitted misapplying over US$180,000 meant to be put in government’s coffer as revenue generated from his entity. “Yes, the money was unauthorized,” he said while responding to a question posed to him by the Chairman of the Committee, Representative Emmanuel Nuqui of Margibi County. The minister said his decision was intended to regularize Liberia’s commitment to the payments of dues owed by Liberia to international organizations but the House’s Committee said his action contravenes the Public Financial Laws of Liberia. According to Minister Norkeh, out ofUS$180,000 revenue generated including donor funding which was inherited from his predecessor, he spent US$20,000 to convey national and international mails. He said he also used US$30,000 to pay dues to international telecommunication organizations including the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). He furthered that Us$30,000, and more was used to represent Liberia on an international trip. However, late last year, this paper reported how the Minister was booked by the General Auditing Commission (GAC) for alleged corruption. The GAC implicated Minister Norkeh and the Comptroller at the Ministry, Henry Shaffa for acts incompatible with fiscal probity, particularly so in observance of Section 9.5 of the Revenue Code of 2000 regarding funds surrounding the National Postal Address System (NAPAS). But Minister angrily responded to the report, and bragged at the time that upon his ascendancy as head of the Ministry, he had to change 150 light bulbs, re-roof the entire building due to intense leakages, change worn-out curtains in the Minister’s office and a total of 25,000 undelivered mails were inherited by his administration. Meanwhile, out of the seven government ministries and agencies invited to the public hearings by the House Committee on Ways, Means and Finance, only four turned out in answer to the communications extended the heads of those ministries and agencies. According to our legislative reporter, Forestry Development Authority (FDA), Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy (MOLM&E), Ministry of Post and Telecommunications (MOPT), and the Ministry of Youth and Sports were government’s institutions that appeared for the hearings; while the heads of Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC), General Services Agency (GSA), and the Liberia Foot Ball Association (LFA) did not show up.
Posted on: Sun, 30 Jun 2013 00:18:14 +0000
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