The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Liberia has denied allegations of interference by Coordinator Steve Flahn Paye regarding Japanese-funded projects. Paye accused Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti of attempting to bypass the Secretariat. The Foreign Ministry dismissed these claims as misleading, citing a warning from the Japanese Ambassador, and introduced new measures to enhance transparency in Japan’s rice aid program.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Liberia has refuted claims of interference in the operations of the Secretariat managing Japanese-funded projects. Allegations were made by Steve Flahn Paye, Coordinator of the Secretariat, who accused Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti of sidelining their role in implementing Japanese programs. This Secretariat was established following a General Auditing Commission report revealing corruption in seven projects funded by Japan.
Paye made his assertions during a segment on OK FM, alleging that Minister Nyanti had contacted the Japanese government to bypass the Secretariat’s management role. He stated, “Since 2009, I have managed Japanese programs. The decision was made to house the Secretariat at the Foreign Ministry… so, Japan and Liberia needed someone with the expertise, and I was asked to move to Foreign Affairs.”
He claimed that there had been unprecedented interference under Minister Nyanti, specifically stating that communications had been sent to the Japanese Embassy directing that engagements occur through a deputy minister. However, he noted that the Japanese Ambassador had rejected this request, underscoring Japan’s satisfaction with the Secretariat’s operations.
The Foreign Ministry responded through Assistant Minister for Public Affairs Saywhar Gbaa, labeling Paye’s claims as misleading. They referenced a communication from Japanese Ambassador Yoshimoto Hiroshi, which cautioned against making inaccurate representations concerning Japan’s position and urged against public misstatements.
Additionally, the Foreign Ministry revealed new guidelines for managing Japan’s rice aid program. The Japan Rice Aid Steering Committee will oversee operations, involving several ministries and local agencies for better distribution and transparency. Entities such as Fouta Corporation, Northwest Commodities, and United Commodities Inc. will manage the sale and distribution of the rice donations, with retail prices set accordingly.
In conclusion, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Liberia has officially denied accusations of interference in Japanese government-funded projects, asserting their commitment to transparency and proper management of aid. The new measures for the rice assistance program signify an effort to ensure effective and equitable distribution while enhancing oversight in response to previous controversies surrounding project management.
Original Source: frontpageafricaonline.com
