By Ezekiel Geeplay
MONROVIA, November 13, 2024 – The Administration of the Monrovia Consolidated School System (MCSS) has clarified that the MCSS has, at no point in time, received US$1.2 million or US$3 million to award a contract as it is being speculated in the media.
In an interview with Rural Reporters News Network Tuesday November 12, 2024 in Monrovia, MCSS Director of Communications, Public Relations and Media Servics Samuel Nyenruh described the allegations as unfounded and untrue. He noted that it is only intended to besmear the reputation of the institution.
“MCSS can only award contracts based on what it has. But in this case, we don’t have any available budget on our own to reach such amount as claimed” Samuel told RRNN.
He added that in order for the MCSS to award a contract, the money must first of all be in its budget or somewhere given by the government or partners outside of its budget.
He indicated that the MCSS budget is US$4.2 million, which is on the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning website for anyone to access.
The MCC communication Director noted that of the US$4.2 million, US$3.9 million goes to salaries, and the balance US$300,000 is for goods and services to run 25 schools, including Central Office.
“The MCSS does not have US$1.2 million in its budget for goods and services, including operation,” he said.
He maintained that, the school system has not received a dime from anywhere in the tone of US$1.2 million, as such, it cannot not award a contract worth US$1.2 million, lest to mention US$ 3 million.
“The MCSS wishes to clarify that at no point in time it has received US$1.2 million or US$3 million USD for wooden chairs and awarded a contract to a company called Ma Mus Group of Investment and Kpeinja Group of Companies Limited as was alleged by Mr. Stanton Whitherspoon on the November 9th edition of Spoon Talk,” he added.
He disclosed that, the chairs to be supplied to the MCSS are President Boakai’s birthday gifts to MCSS students and are corrugated, desk and armchairs, not locally made wooden chairs.
He used the occasion to challenge those spreading the information to show evidence of their allegations or desist from marketing lies to the public.
“The MCSS wants to know who gave it US$1.2 or US$3 million for chairs? Who approved the check? Which bank disbursed the money? Who signed on the check? What is the check number? Where are the documents, if not the manufactured ones? Where are the receipts? Who issued the checks at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning? Where did the money come from? Where did the kickbacks come from? Who gave the kickbacks? The school system is interested to know,” he said.
He stated that the 22,500 armchairs are the President’s own way of demonstrating his unwavering support and commitment to improving the education sector in Liberia.
“On the question of why not locally made chairs? The MCSS would like to inform that the corrugated, steel armchairs in question last for about five to ten years as opposed to the locally made chairs.
He stressed that, the locally made armchairs, that don’t last for more than a year, have cost the MCSS a lot of money.
He however extended warmest thanks and appreciation to President Joseph Boakai, for his kind gesture as he celebrates his birthday on November 30th, 2024.
Meanwhile, the MCSS Director of Communications pointed out that, President Joseph N. Boakai Boakai, under his “One Child, One Chair Policy”, has opted to supply the MCSS with 22,500 corrugated armchairs to alleviate the challenges of chairs students are faced with based on the request of Superintendent Momoh.
He recalled that few months ago, the Superintendent of MCSS, James A.S. Momoh wrote the Liberian leader to assist the MCSS with corrugated armchairs to address the challenges the system is faced with in terms of chairs.
He said the MCSS Superintendent in his communication addressed to the President dated June 27, 2024, noted that it was costing the MCSS a lot of money producing locally made armchairs that were not lasting for more than a year due to the wood used to fix them and also how rigorously the students use them.
He stressed that in response to Superintendent Momoh’s communication through the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, President Boakai promised to supply the MCSS with 22,500 corrugated armchairs under his One Child, One chair Policy.
He quoted the MCSS Boss interaction with scores of journalists on November 4, 2024, at the MCSS Central Office, as Superintendent Momoh emphasized that he was instructed by President Boakai to work along with Madam Macdella Cooper, Senior Political Advisor to President Boakai, including those responsible for providing the armchairs to ensure that they were supplied.
For nearly a week, there has been reports in the media linking the MCSS administration of awarding two separate contracts to a Chinese Group of companies to produce high-quality armchairs and other laboratory equipment outside of the PPCC and PFM laws and procedures.
