-Eco Bank statement contradicts Defense Ministry balance statement
By Frank Sainworla, Jr. fsainworla@yahoo.com
A probe into the Compulsory Contribution Fund of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) reveals that “US$1,147, 656.35 was withdrawn and expended outside the intended purpose for which the scheme was created.”
According to the report dated January 12, 2018, a copy of which is in the possession of www.newspublictrust.com from within the corridor of power, findings from the investigation show “inconsistency in payment”.
The deductions of US$20 and US$25 from each AFL enlisted man and officer respectively has been going on since July 2009.
And the soldiers themselves recently threatened to protest, claiming the Defense Ministry authorities had promised to pay back their money at the end of the current regime of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
The investigation Committee was convened by AFL Chief of Staff, Maj General Danial Ziankahn with 14 other officers and enlisted men to reconcile funds in the account of the AFL Personnel Compulsory Contribution Fund.
The payments have been deducted from salaries of AFL soldiers from July 2009 to November 2017.
But the failure to restitute the deductions triggered a major protest last week by wives of AFL soldiers at the Edward B. Kesselly military barracks on the main highway leading to the country’s Roberts International Airport outside Monrovia.
There were roadblocks and traffic to and from the airport was disrupted for some time until the AFL high command intervened and persuaded the demonstrators to leave the street.
Findings from the investigation reveal that the total amount withdrawn to cater for deceased families and retired personnel was US$147, 303.20; and the balance sum in the account as at November 8, 2017 is US$688,964.96.
According to the report, which is addressed to outgoing President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and copied President-elect George Weah, the balance sum in the account as at November 8, 2017 is 688,964.96.
This account is said to have accrued an interest of US$118,188.15, the report noted.
Defense Minister Brownie Samukai and the Ministry’s Comptroller were said to be the two signatories to the account.
Recently, Defense Minister Brownie Samukai dismissed the claim by aggrieved AFL soldiers that the compulsory deductions were done with a promise that the amount will be given back at the end of this administration, which has just days in power.
Instead, Minister Samukai said the deductions in question were used to establish welfare fund to assist soldiers in time of needs.
Samukai, who has been in this post since President Sirleaf took office in 2006, told www.newspublictrust.com at the time that the amount collected summed up to US$700,000 and it was established to assist soldier since the government does not have any policy for catering for soldiers killed or injured in action.
According to him, some of the money was also used to bury the soldier that was killed in Mali, while another portion of the money was also used to pay the tuition of a soldiers whose leg was amputated as a result of accident.
However, the AFL investigation Committee said that “the payment of the funds to the beneficiaries were done at the discretion of the Ministry and the Eco Bank Statement balance contradicts MoD’s (Ministry of Defence) balance statement.”
Here are the exact points stated in the findings:
- “That there were inconsistencies in the payment into the pension Fund Account where monies were paid in part and at times not within the specified payment.
- That the AFL pay roster did not reflect each personnel contribution to the scheme. Deductions were usually done by circulating the number of personnel as per rank and deduct the money and pay the cumulative total into pension Fund Account. Therefore, the MoD does not have comprehensive data of each personnel contribution to the scheme.
- That there has been no approve policy governing the management of said fund. However, Headquarter AFL has submitted a draft policy on the management of the pension Fund to the Ministry of National Defense for approval.
- That the payment of funds to the beneficiaries were done at the discretion of the Ministry.
- From the period the AFL took over the account, there has been no withdrawal made from the account
- The Eco Bank Statement balance contradicts MoD’s balance statement”
Conclusion:
“The AFL pension Account had many transitions other than what it was intended for,” the Committee’s report concluded, in addition to the following:
- “There has not been a comprehensive data of each personnel contribution into the account but deductions were made as per number of personnel in rank and paid cumulatively into the account
- There was no mechanism put in place to inform the personnel of their monthly contributions
- Thus, there was no written policy guiding the management of funds in the AFL Pension Account even though troops were aware that the funds were meant for deceased families and those retired personnel.. There was therefore the need to give appropriate direction on the proper management of the funds.”
Meanwhile, the AFL investigation Committee’s report, which is signed by Chief of Staff, General Ziakahn, recommends that “no withdrawal should be authorized from the AFL Pension Account until the policy for the management of the said account is approved.”
It has also recommended that the AFL Pension Funds Account be separated from other transactions and a comprehensive data of each personnel contribution be made from August 2009 to date.
AFL personnel need to be given details of their contribution at least every six months, the report recommended.
With just days to the end of the Sirleaf government, it is not known what she will do with this report or what measures the Liberian leader will take to prevent eruption of another street protest by AFL soldiers’ wives or the soldiers themselves.