PHTOTO: (L_R) Rtd. Gen. Gerald George, Min. of Defense and Rtd. Captain Jerry Kollie
By Augustine Octavius, augustineoctavius@gmail.com
The veteran community of the Armed Forces of Liberia is demanding the Board of Directors of the National Bureau of Veteran Affairs to launch an investigation against the past leaderships of the entity for their alleged involvement in the sale of the Bureau’s tractor and other equipment during their tenure at the institution.
But this is yet to be independently verified.
Also recently, Brigadier Gen. Aaron Johnson and Lt Col Andrew Wleh, who spoke on behalf of the ex-leadership during an interview with local radio station, denied the allegations made against them
The spokesman of the veteran soldiers, Retired Captain Jerry K Kollie, said the tractor was given to the bureau by the Ministry of Agriculture during the administration of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for retired soldiers to use at the 100 acres of farmland owned by the AFL veterans located Kpancoon, Barclayville, District One in Grand Bassa County.
According to Captain Kollie, other equipment given to the bureau were molted plough, power tillers and other farming materials; since then, it has been discovered that these equipment and materials were sold in 2016 by some members of the management team at the bureau.
He also said that the sale of these equipment and others have brought the farming operation by the bureau to a standstill.
Recently, the Veteran Community of the erstwhile Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) adopted criteria for the appointment of the incoming leadership for the National Bureau of Veteran Affairs.
The criteria for serving on the leadership for the Bureau was adopted recently by a 19-man committee headed by Retired Major Larry T Jallah to vet and recommend qualified veterans for appointment by President and Commander in Chief, Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. Ex-AFL Soldiers Set Criteria For National Veteran Bureau’s Leadership – News Public Trust
In related story, Captain Kollie also allegedly accused Retired Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Wleh, former Deputy Director General for Veteran Affairs in the administration of former President George Weah of refusing to turn over the Lab-Top assigned to his office by the bureau to the Officer in Charge.
Therefore, the veteran community is requesting an investigation committee to be set by the Board of Directors of the National Bureau of Veteran Affairs where all evidence will be presented against the accused.
The veteran community says it is also very concerned about the equipment because the ex-soldiers are interested in establishing the farm in order to boost the President’s ARREST Agenda, which also focuses on agriculture.
At the same time, the veteran community is asking the National Defense Minister and Board Chairperson of the National Bureau of Veteran Affairs to forward the names of veterans who were thoroughly vetted by the veteran community to be appointed by President and Commander in Chief.