“There is no L$16 billion missing”
By William Selmah wselmah@gmail.com
The Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) has spoken on the alleged missing billions Liberian dollars saga in the country, describing media reports unearthing a seeming scandal as incorrect.
“The CBL wants to clarify to the general public and partners in progress that there is no L$16 billion missing, as erroneously reported in the media”, CBL Governor Nathaniel Patray said Tuesday at a news conference attended by all of the Deputy Governors including .Charles Sirleaf, son of former President Sirleaf and Dr. Mounir Siaplay, Deputy Governor for Economic Policy.
Governor Patray further explained that the “CBL has no records showing that the monies printed under its authority have not been delivered to its reserve vaults”.
Patray: “Record from the Crane Currency of Sweden, which was contracted to print the money, shows that the Crane delivered 15.5 billion through the Freeport and RIA between 2016 and 2018 and that all these monies were logged by the CBL and delivered to the reserve vaults of the CBL”
The Bank Governor also spoke of taking steps to lift travel restrictions on 30 0f its staff members imposed by the Monrovia City Court as previously prayed for by the Justice Ministry, the lead investigators.
The Governor’s statement, which supports an earlier opinion by President Weah upon arrival from the UN General Assembly, appears to raise more questions than answers.
The Information Minister Lenn Eugene Nagbe had earlier confirmed a local daily report of the printing and disappearance of excess bank notes which arrived through the RIA and the Freeport of Monrovia.
Pundits also believe that the near corresponding statements by President Weah and the CBL, make the outcome of the ongoing investigation to be anybody’s guess.