IPNews-Monrovia: Controversies have ensued over the disappearance of over 20 million United States dollars allocated for the renovation of the Executive Mansion.

The Executive Mansion constructed in 1957, at a cost of 12 million pounds, was a gift of the Royal British Throne of her Royal majestic Queen Elizabeth II, to the people of Liberia, as the seat of the presidency.

Additionally, the government of President William V.S. Tubman contributed nine million United States dollars to the construction works.

Since then all presidents since President William V. A. Tubman, have stayed there with their families except former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf,  who since abandoned it following a filtered fire on July 26, 2006, during the 159th  Independence celebration of Liberia.

The plenary of the House of Representatives is expected to investigate over US$20 million in allocations made towards the renovation of the Executive Mansion in several budgets over a number of fiscal years.

The Plenary of the House of Representatives made the decision following communication from Grand Bassa County District #4 Representative Vincent Willie, requesting that body to set up a specialized committee to probe the budgetary allocations for the renovation of the Executive Mansion and to know the status of the building.

The Grand Bassa lawmaker said, since the unfortunate incident the legislature has been allocating money to renovate the building.

Willie indicated that the National Legislature has allocated over US$20,136,908.00 for the purpose of getting the Executive Mansion back to its glory days.

According to Legislative sources, the National LLegislaturesince 2010/2011 fecal year has approved to present 20 million and wonders why the President of Liberia was still being hosted at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The source said the total money the legislature approved for the Executive Mansion, l, renovation since the 2010/11 budget,  of 973,496.00 was placed, while the 2011/12 budget captured US$1,230,078.00.

The Grand Bassa lawmaker said the 2012/2013 allotment captured US$2,000,000.00 and in 2013/2014 some US$6,466,667.00 was placed in the budget, while in 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 budgets provided US$6,466,667.00and US$3,000,000.00 respectively for the same renovation process.

“We can consider it as a political dragon that is eating the Liberian people’s money,” he added.

According to Rep. Willie, the portion of the Liberian budget that is under the caption ‘Mansion Renovation’ is considered as “an eating spot for those who have access to that budget line.”

He further explained that since his ascendancy to the district’s highest seat, the issue of allocation for the renovation has captured his attention and, being a direct representative of the ordinary people, he saw the need to raise the issue.

As a means of recovering the assets of Liberia, Willie said it is important for former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former Finance and Development Planning and Public Works ministers to be brought before the specialized committee to answer to questions on how the money was used during the time they were in the relevant positions.

“Most interestingly, fellow colleagues, the 2018/2019 National Budget also has two projections that were made for the next two fiscal periods which are 2019/2020 projection that is US$4,080,000 and 2020/2021 that is US$7,140,000.00,” he added.

Willie at the same time, requested plenary to see reasons to have those responsible for the Executive Mansion renovation to be cited to explain to the full plenary of the House of Representatives as to when the process of renovation would finish and that all budgetary appropriations for the renovation of the Mansion be halted until a reputable firm performs a forensic audit.

But following a motion from Lofa County lawmaker Clarence Massaquoi, it was unanimously voted upon by members of the House of Representatives that a specialized committee be set-up to investigate, invite all persons of interest, including former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, to know the status of the renovation and how the werelions was expended and report back to plenary with report in one week.

However, House Speaker Bhofal Chambers said the committee will be announced on Tuesday, August 13.