The United States Mission to Liberia expresses serious concerns about the report in the February 2, 2023 edition of FrontPageAfrica newspaper regarding the misuse of funds provided by the United States Government to support health care for the people of Margibi County.
We have a special responsibility to ensure that money provided by United States taxpayers for the benefit of the people of Liberia, including the people of Margibi, is used for its intended purpose. We commend the investigative journalism that brought this story to light and appreciate the swift action by the Ministry of Health to make immediate changes while investigating the matter.
The USAID Mission to Liberia will decide whether to retain Margibi as part of USAID’s government[1]to-government agreement pending a transparent investigation and associated actions to hold accountable anyone involved in the misuse of any U.S. government funds.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health, through its Minister, Dr. Wilhemina Jallah, on Friday February 3, 2023 suspended several health workers of the Margibi County Health Team for the leaked audio about them getting kickbacks from vendors.
Speaking during a press conference at her Congotown office, Dr. Jallah said on February 2, 2023 a local media outlet reported a leaked audio exposing some key members of the Margibi County Health Team, discussing ways in which to collect kickbacks from vendors associated with the Ministry of Health.
She said the contents of these news articles seemingly border on acts of corruption. These are acts the Ministry vehemently rejects and detests in all forms.
According to her, the MOH therefore wishes to inform the general public and partners that given that the Ministry lacks the authority and capacity to investigate direct allegations of corruption of such magnitude, it has taken the following actions, effective February 2, 2023:
“We recalled all staff of the Margibi County Health Team who have been implicated in the scandal; and have put an acting County Health Team in place to continue the provision health services in Margibi County”.
“The MOH will be turning over all such persons to the LACC for investigation. The outcome of the LACC investigation will inform the next decision of the Ministry”
The people of Margibi County can be assured that normal service delivery will continue undisrupted while the investigation continues.
Minister is at the same time thanked the government, our donors and the public for their patience as they await the outcome of this investigation.
