Blazing Fire Of Corruption At NPA
-Over US$2M Disappears
Forum
Monrovia, Liberia
Distributed by
The Perspective
Atlanta, Georgia
Documents available to this paper indicate that the amount in question range from what is described as “fake” allotments for some top NPA’s mangers, emergency allowance, car rental and other benefits outside of normal management procedure.
According to the documents, Mr. Gbala who has taken over the NPA as Managing Director since 2003, along with his close associates has designed these schemes to defraud the entity considered as “gateway to the Liberian economy,” in which huge sum of money is allotted to him and other.
In one of the undated financial documents in the possession of The FORUM, dubbed as “Executives Monthly/Quarterly Salaries/Benefits,” it was indicated that the monthly Emergency Allowances of Gbala and his top mangers accumulated to over 280,000 United States dollars during the period under review.
In the same document, it was discovered that the two-year running of Gbala’s administration has cumulatively used over 250,000 United States dollars as Monthly Car rental Allowance given the fact that the NPA management has assigned cars to these top level managers for use.
An amount of 550,000 United States dollars covering extra benefits known as “monthly USD benefits” and over the 555,000 Liberians dollars benefits were discovered to have been spent by the top NPA managers.
In another document, under the signature of MD Gbala, the NPA committed itself to the K&K Trading Company in the tone of US$19,5000 against the NPA’s indebtedness which was credited and is to be used on the K&K future or expected vessel M/V AS/SALL/AM, with 13,000 metric tones.
Another NPA official memorandum dated October 25, 2004 signed by the Deputy
Managing Director for Administration and approved by the MD, an amount of
US$1,500 was paid for only vehicle repairs.
Other vouchers also perused depicted the signatures of some top NPA managers
amounting to several thousand United States dollars without naming the particular
transactions for which the money was withdrawn from the management’s
accounts.
Accusing fingers have been pointed at the NPA board for being part of
the saga as it has failed to carry out monitoring aspect to stamp out corruption
at the port. However, the board recently effected several changes at the
Finance Section following foul cry by the Dock Workers of rampant corruption
at the port.
Efforts to contact Managing Director Joe Gbala could not materialize up
to press time as his phone rang on several occasions without response.
Board Chairperson D. Musline Cooper who earlier consented for an interview could not be available. According to her, she would only talk to the press in the presence of other board members at a date yet to be arranged.
