Liberia: ‘NASSCORP Did Not Give US$40K to LRRRC’ 

The National Social Security and Welfare Corporation (NASSCORP) has expressed dismay about a report alleging that it (NASSCORP) made a contribution of US$40,000 for the renovation of housing units in Tubmanburg, Bomi County intended for the rehabilitation of some disadvantaged youth popularly known and called “zogos” in Liberia.

NASSCORP was responding to a story published in the Daily Observer by freelance journalist Evelyn Kpadeh Seagbeh, which among other states that in 2019, the social security provider made available US$40,000 to renovate a facility that was supposed to use as a rehabilitation center for at-risk youth in Bomi County.

 Seagbeh's report claimed that residents of Tubmanburg, Bomi are yet to see the completion of the rehabilitation center by the  Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC) with the primary goal of rehabilitating the drug-addicted youthful population.

But  NASSCORP,  via its Assistant Director-General for Press and Public relations, Winston Jah, the news about giving LRRRC US$40,000 is untrue. Jah, however, admitted that NASSCORP gave a cheque of US$1,500 to LRRRC in support of the Refugee Commission’s efforts to ameliorate the threat posed by the roaming of the drug-addicted people across the country.

“It is said that the journalist who reported the story did not reach out to us to authenticate if we gave out such an amount of money. It is placing us against the public because people, mainly the public working population from whose salaries deductions are made for their social and welfare care, would think that NASSCORP is misusing their money,” Jah said.

He noted that the US$1,500 cheque was given to LRRRC in June of 2019, based on a request made by LRRRC.

“To the best of my knowledge and with support from our records, I am not aware of any US$40,000 given to LRRRC for whatever reason. In June of 2019, what I am aware of is that a request was made to the management of NASSCORP for some financial assistance and the amount given to the LRRRC was US$1,500,” Jah said, adding “I am not aware of any additional payment in the tone of US$40,000. I can’t confirm that.”

He added that NASSCORP supports projects embarked upon by line ministries and agencies of government that are meant for the public good.

“NASSCORP takes social corporate responsibilities to the people very seriously. This is why we make contributions to specific projects when we are called upon. We contributed to the Invincible Sports Park and many other projects across the country. This is so because we owe it to our people and communities. They deserve better recreation centers, safe drinking water, and many more. The Act establishing NASSCORP grants us the right to do so but we do not lavishly spend the people’s money,” he explained.

 The LRRC also noted that it was unfortunate that Seagbeh did not get back to them to corroborate the facts regarding the projection.

In a statement, LRRRC added there is no record anywhere to prove that NASSCORP gave them US$40,000.

“For the record, LRRRC did not in any way, anyhow, receive such an amount of money neither from NASSCORP nor any other source, be it government or private,” the statement signed by Samuel David, deputy communications and public affairs director at LRRRC, said. “The organization received a receipt of US$1,500 from NASSCORP.

He noted that the amount of money generated was insufficient and as such, the project could not be completed. 

“Other reasons responsible for halting the renovation of the facilities include county authorities becoming apprehensive of the idea of establishing a center that could host the drug addicts for the sake of rehabilitation. LRRRC maintains that a major situation that hindered the project was multi-sectoral, an issue of the Ministry of Youth and Sports and other agencies."

Meanwhile,  Rev. Festus Logan, LRRRC’s Executive Director, and David in a recorded conversation with Seagbeh at no time informed her that LRRRC’s receipt of US$40,000 from NASSCORP.

However, Logan and his communications officer admitted to using US$30,000 to US$40,000 for the renovation project.

“Interestingly, we spent a little over US$30 to 40,000. It was funded by us, the LRRRC. The only partner that came in and provided fuel and scratch cards for a week was IOM (International Organization on Migration) because it has a migration face to that. It has a serious migration problem,” Logan said.

In the recording, David said over US$40,000 was used for the renovation and the fueling of vehicles but there was no clear message from the two states that the US$40,000 was a bulk sum from any source.

David did not disclose how much but said Senator Saah Joseph made a contribution to the project and that NASSCORP also contributed. Logan added that the record books of LRRRC are open to anyone interested in getting answers about the project, including money raised and used.

“We have nothing to lie about. There is nothing we want to hide from anyone. Thank God I reached out to NASSCORP to know when, where and to whom they ever gave US$40,000 for the project in Bomi. The response from NASSCORP speaks for us and we remain committed to ensuring that the public is put ahead of our benefits,” the LRRRC boss said.

He explained that the goal was for the proposed center that once hosted the UN peacekeeping mission’s contingent in Bomi to host 150 zogos at a time.

“We had hoped that if all went well, at least 150 of those affected young people could be cared for, provided some vocational education, detoxified from the harmful substances, counseled, and provided psychosocial care before their reintegration into society. We wanted to work with partners to provide total rehabilitation to this group of young people we believe can still be an asset to our country,” Logan concluded.

When contacted, Zeogar Wilson, Minister of Youth and Sports denied having any understanding of LRRRC’s project in Bomi.

Wilson said his Ministry had no deal with LRRRC’s renovation project in Bomi.

“We were not part of it and we had no dealing with that. They were running their program and I don’t even know what part of Bomi they were having [it],” he said via phone call made to him to get his side of the story."