-Senator McGill Calls for Continued Investigation Following Commerce Minister’s Resignation
By Jerromie S. Walters
Margibi County Senator Nathaniel F. McGill says while the resignation of Liberia’s Commerce Minister Amin Modad is a necessary first step in addressing recent controversies, it is far from adequate.
Commerce Minister Amin Modad has reportedly tendered his resignation. This decision comes amidst a storm of public outcry and scrutiny over his alleged extravagant spending on a luxury vehicle.
But in a recent statement via his official Facebook page, Senator McGill emphasized that the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) has clearly violated the law by instructing Medtech to purchase a luxury vehicle, and he insists that the investigation must proceed regardless of Modad’s departure from office.
Following Senator McGill’s statement, Bomi County Senator Edwin Snowe noted: “You have me as your partner in on this. I fully agree with you and will stand with you on the floor of the Senate to make the case.”
In a recent report, the Liberian Senate identified this incident as a significant breach of the agreement between the government and Medtech. The report recommended that the General Auditing Commission (GAC) conduct a thorough audit to ascertain the total amount Medtech expended on behalf of the government. Additionally, it called for Medtech to be held accountable for repayment.
Senator McGill pointed out that the LRA, despite being fully aware of the legal breach, authorized Medtech to move forward with the unlawful transaction. “While Amin may have personally benefited from this situation, it is the LRA that broke the law, making both parties equally guilty and liable,” he stated.
He underscored that this issue extends beyond Modad’s resignation, framing it as a critical moment for the principles of transparency, accountability, and the rule of law in Liberia. “If we fail to enforce these principles, we risk allowing such violations to continue, further eroding public trust in our institutions,” McGill warned.
Witnesses reported seeing Modad driving away from the Ministerial compound while other ministers arrived for a cabinet retreat at the ministerial complex. His departure was met with jubilation from employees of the Ministry of Commerce, some of whom claimed that Modad resigned to preempt a dismissal.
The controversy centers around allegations that Modad authorized the purchase of a customized vehicle valued at US$96,000 by the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) for his personal use. This purchase is alleged to have violated the 2024 budget law, which stipulates that vehicle procurement costs, except for the highest-ranking officials such as the President, Vice President, Speaker, Pro-Tempore, Deputy Speaker, and the Chief Justice of Liberia, should not exceed US$45,000 after duty.
In a release on September 23, 2024, the LRA attempted to clarify the situation, denying the purchase of a vehicle valued at US$150,000, as some reports suggested. The LRA confirmed that it had approved a request from the Ministry of Commerce in early May 2024 for US$96,000 from its Customs Capacity Building Fund under the Destination Inspection (DI) Contract with MEDTECH Scientific Limited (MTS) for vehicle purchases intended to support trade-related activities in collaboration with Customs.
The LRA emphasized that the specifications and deployment of these vehicles were determined by the Ministry of Commerce, not the LRA. Contradicting the LRA’s clarification, Minister Modad maintained that the vehicle in question was purchased for the Ministry of Commerce, with payments made directly to the vendor, and that no funds passed through the ministry or his accounts.
He also refuted claims that the vehicle was custom-made or that it was purchased for US$150,000. “I’ve been using my vehicles, including an S-Class Mercedes, since I took office eight months ago, and I cover the costs of fuel and my driver’s salary myself,” Modad stated.
